Pernec champions innovation, creativity

Kamarul Yunus
New Straits Times
04-23-2011
Pernec champions innovation, creativity
Byline: Kamarul Yunus
Edition: Main/Lifestyle
Section: Business Times
Type: News

KUALA LUMPUR: Pernec Corp Bhd, the technology arm of Permodalan Nasional Bhd, is using the upcoming Minggu Saham Amanah Malaysia 2011 (MSAM 2011) to showcase its products and partners.

Managing director Abdul Karim Abdul Sallam said Pernec aims to become a champion of innovation and creativity, and it believes it is well positioned to support the national innovation agenda.
"Now is the time to push the innovation agenda to the next level, which would create a culture of products and solutions creations. We would like to invite local entrepreneurs to work with us on co- creation.

"The cooperation includes working with the small and medium entrepreneurs (SMEs) to develop local contents and applications. We have no intention to create the contents and applications alone. That is why we are bringing in all the three main elements, namely the one who develops, the one who sells and the one who uses at MSAM," he said in an interview here recently.

Pernec will showcase a number of products and solutions at MSAM 2011, which include cloud computing solutions, cloud-based netbooks, content and applications, e-commerce platforms and energy-efficient solutions.

"Innovation, which is the main theme for MSAM 2011, augurs well with Pernec as it is part of our new strategic initiative to re- invent our current business portfolios.

"Malaysia is a heavy consumer of information, communication and technology, and the challenges for local technology players are to become producers of innovation. It is imperative that we create sustainable innovation and entrepreneurship," he said.

In cloud computing, the company will be looking at infrastructure, besides producing software solutions as well as contents and applications.

"We will collaborate with telecommunication companies in terms of providing broadband network. We will also work with the SMEs to develop whatever applications that can ride on top of the cloud computing infrastructure, including contents and applications, plus the Internet of things," he said.

Other solutions to be shown include the latest vehicle tracking system known as Pernec fleet management system utilising the Geo Location Platform, one of the most advanced vehicle tracking systems available in the market today.

Pernec is also developing a tracking and traceability system for the halal aspect of a product from "farm to fork". It also foresees the development of more local contents and applications for mobile banking, payment gateways, education, e-health and lifestyle.

On green technology, Abdul Karim said he believes that Pernec's debut into this green technology would provide a 10 per cent growth to the company's overall turnover.

Pernec has also introduced a small-scale wind turbine for coastal areas and is normally presented as hybrid solution with solar panels.

"We also have energy-efficient boxes that can be deployed as a fast-fix to enjoy immediate savings up to 15 per cent and will give a return on investment of between 24 and 26 months," he said.

MSAM 2011 is being held now in Ipoh, Perak, and runs until April 26.

(Copyright 2011)