Confusion at Mosti's Computing Bill open day

Confusion reigned at the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation's (Mosti) open day on its proposed Computing Professionals Bill 2011.

Experts and academicians who had helped draft the Bill and were tasked to defend it, clashed with local IT professionals and ordinary Malaysians.

"We don't want the Bill," cried out one unhappy IT professional as others stood up and raised their hands in support after their repeated questions were met with answers from panel members that they found unclear or were very vague.

Experts from computer and IT industry-linked organisations took the floor during an open session today, without the presence of Mosti officials, and tried to justify and explain the Bill to the crowd of concerned IT practitioners.

DAP national publicity chief Tony Pua, who was there, expressed disappointment with the event and hit out at the lack of coordination, the fact that no Mosti official of note was present and the inability of the experts to address key points.

Labis MP Chua Tee Yong, who also heads MCA's young professionals body, is scheduled to make an appearance in the second half of the day. It is believed that Chua will be expressing his party's opposition to the Bill.

[More to follow]