K-ECONOMY

We talk about the K-Economy or knowledge based economy as if 'knowledge' is a physical commodity. Should we treat it as we did with oil palm or disk drives?

With all coverage by the media and the announcements of the policy makers, it seems that there is an element of the K-Economy being neglected. So far the media and Government's focus on acquisition and application of knowledge.

So much had been said on the 'what', 'why' and 'how' of becoming a K-Economy, but no one touches on the 'what about', 'why not' and the 'how come'. It's human intuition – the spirit of creativity, exploration and experimentation.

Picture is a human brain, it works effectively by not only using its left side to count and analyze, but it uses its right side to create and motivate as well. Only when the two sides of the brain work in unison will the thinking result in a wholesome solution.

The K-Economy is just like the human brain. It must be balanced with the intangibles. We have to realize that the K-Economy is not much about capabilities in analysis and structure building, but it's more about encouraging the development of entrepreneurial values such as courage, responsiveness and a questioning mind always looking for a better way to do things. It's the 'right brain', the creative side.

The element that more than anything else, will ensure the realization of the desired full effects of a knowledge based economy. Advanced economies never lack people who have passions to create or desire to explore their fields of interest (and for those who don't share their passion will hold their values in high regard nonetheless). They are the catalysts of the economy, they risk failure but they have the courage to face it and the perseverance to carry it through. How do we encourage this? The answer lies not only in building physical infrastructures alone but also in creating an overall conducive macro environment that nurtures and motivates.

In this aspect, Malaysian businesses and the society at large should not merely focus on the adoption of new technologies, more importantly we should adapt a new mindset as well. We must be ever ready to learn, un-learn and re-learn.

It's okay to fail because you get to learn from yourselves and from others, so that you can start up again on a better footing. A venture isn't always about making a roaring success on the first try, it's about making an investment on your future.

KHAIRUL IDZWAN IDRIS

Timbalan Pengerusi
Biro Ekonomi dan Pembangunan Usahawan
Pergerakan Pemuda UMNO Bahagian Setiawangsa
Wilayah Persekutuan