Promoting ODF (OpenDocument Format),"Position Statement on Software Neutrality and Openness" from MOSSA (Malaysia Open Source Software Alliance)
On Thursday, 7 December 2006, a Round Table discussion was conducted by MOSSA (Malaysia Open Source Software Alliance) at the office of the New Straits Times newspaper in Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur. MOSSA consists of ICT solution developers and providers, associations, groups, users and individuals. The Round Table discussed an announcement by the Malaysian Government on software neutrality.
The output of the Round Table is the "Position Statement on Software Neutrality and Openness" as appended below.
You are invited to endorse the Position Statement -- you may do so by using the Comments facility at the bottom of this blog post at Open Malaysia blog, or email us at the address open-AT-openmalaysiablog-DOT-com.
Please submit your real name in full, organization, email address,
contact number and website (if available). Periodically upon
verification, we will update the list of endorsers at the bottom of the
Position Statement. Please indicate whether you would like your
organization to be listed, or yourself as an individual.
Below is MOSSA's "Position Statement on Software Neutrality and Openness".
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MOSSA
(Malaysia Open Source Software Alliance)
Position Statement on Software Neutrality and Openness
7 December 2006
Background
On 21 November 2006, Y.B. Dato' Sri Jamaludin Jarjis, Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation announced that the Malaysian Government is adopting a neutral technology platform policy that does not favour either open source software (OSS) or proprietary software, and that government procurement policies will now be based on merit and not on platform choice. The Minister was also quoted that this does not void MAMPU's Open Source Software Master Plan.
Purpose of Position Statement
Malaysia Open Source Software Alliance (MOSSA) consists of ICT solution developers and providers, associations, groups, users and individuals as listed below. We would like to state our support for the announced policy and our views on how the policy should be practiced.
Position Statement
1. We have always regarded the Malaysian Public Sector OSS Initiative with its Master Plan as one of the best in the world, and it has a balanced approach to software deployment with no preference given to either open source or proprietary software. We believe this remains the case today and we are pleased that the Malaysian Government is reaffirming this policy.
2. We support a procurement structure based on neutrality, and we would like to see a draft on what 'neutrality' means. Key concerns are:
- Software neutrality should result in a competitive playing field which benefits the consumers in terms of quality of service received and long term gains.
- Software neutrality should include triggers that look beyond the short-term goals and mitigate risks of market manipulation by companies or organizations who might offer more in return for market monopoly, imposing restrictive strategies and retarding the growth of the local IT industry in the long run.
- Software neutrality should result in openly developed, openly maintained, openly accessible and royalty and patent free standards to mitigate these risks, which favour both the market and industry, beside truly giving meaning to neutrality.
- Software neutrality includes understanding that considerations when acquiring software are independent of whether the software comes from a proprietary or open source provider. Procurement decisions should be based on solid business rationale which must consider functionality, cost effectiveness, interoperability through open standards, security, flexibility and performance. Additional considerations would include the effect on local economies, the adoption of open file formats, and adaptability to future technologies.
3. We are working on a Customer Charter that represents our commitment to the industry and market, incorporating the following:
- Innovation means making the customer receive exactly what he wants.
- Empowerment means allowing the customer to move forward as he chooses after the service is delivered.
- Fair play means allowing the customer to choose the software he wants and still run the solutions he paid for.
- Neutrality means not restricting the customer to our business model when he does not like it.
- Democracy is giving the customer a choice.
Endorsers
The following individuals, associations and companies endorse the Position Statement (last update 02 February 2007):
- Abyres Sdn Bhd
- Afrezal Tahrin
- Ang Chin Han
- Ang Kian Meng
- Colin Charles, Arena Techniques Pty Ltd, Australia
- Ditesh Kumar
- drizad (Ruhaizad Daud)
- Exoweb Limited, China
- Ezwan Aizat Bin Abdullah Faiz
- FMM (Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers)
- Harisfazillah Jamel
- IBM Malaysia Sdn Bhd
- Interunix Networking Solutions Sdn Bhd
- Jacob Thomas Jr
- Jayakumar
- John Mah
- Kenneth Wong Yoong Chiat
- Kris Khaira
- Lau Sian Lun
- Magnifix Sdn Bhd
- MNCC (Malaysian National Computer Confederation)
- Mohammed Firdaus
- Mohd Irwan Jamaluddin
- Mohd Sharazad Saiful Bahri
- My Directory Sdn Bhd
- Nah Soo Hoe
- Nicholas A. Suppiah
- ODF SIG (OpenDocument Format Special Interest Group) of MNCC
- OSSIG (Open Source Special Interest Group) of MNCC
- Novell Corporation (M) Sdn Bhd
- Omnilogic Sdn Bhd
- Ow Mun Heng
- Open Source Systems Sdn Bhd
- QubeConnect Sdn Bhd
- Raja Iskandar Shah
- Red Hat Limited (Malaysia Representative Office)
- Skali (Alam Teknokrat Sdn Bhd)
- Sun Microsystems Malaysia Sdn Bhd
- Tejinder Singh
- UNDP-APDIP International Open Source Network (ASEAN 3, South Asia and Pacific Islands nodes)
- William Gan Chee Wah
- Xanadu Solutions
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Related posts (last update 24 December 2006):
- Jeff Kaplan - Open ePolicy: Open Source Brings Neutrality and Manifestos
- MoNSTer Blog: Democracy, Low Yat style
- Open Malaysia blog: Opinion: 'Technology neutrality' and what it means to us Malaysians - New Straits Times
- Open Malaysia blog: Successful Deployment Of OpenOffice.org In The Public Sector
- MoNSTer Blog: Press Release: MOSSA Roundtable 07 December 2006
- Open Malaysia blog: The New Straits Times on "technology neutrality"
- Open Malaysia blog: The Edge on "technology neutrality"
- Slashdot: Malaysian Open Source Procurement Policy Amended
- Open Malaysia blog: "Market Neutrality" and ODF.
- Open Malaysia blog: Awash the FUD
- Open Malaysia blog: Forgive me if I am not convinced
- Open Malaysia blog: Making a case for open source
- Open Malaysia blog: Watch out for more FUD
- An Antic Disposition: When language goes on holiday
Other mentions (last update 22 December 2006):
- Groklaw Latest News Picks (19 December 2006 - limited number of days): Maylasia Open Source Software Alliance Releases Position Statement (linked to LocalFoss as below)
- LocalFoss: Maylasia Open Source Software Alliance Releases Position Statement
- light in darkness: Caracas' Calling
- strange symphonies: Malaysia Open Source Software Alliance (MOSSA)
- MMU (Multimedia University) Open Source news: “Position Statement on Software Neutrality and Openness” from MOSSA (Malaysia Open Source Software Alliance)
- GudangLinux Migration Center: Malaysia gulirkan Open Source - Artikel Terkait
- FMM (Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers) Press Release: FMM Press Release on Malaysia Open Source Software Alliance (MOSSA) - Position Statement on Software Neutrality and Openness
- openasia.org Latest News: "Position Statement on Software Neutrality and Openness" from MOSSA (Malaysia Open Source Software Alliance)
- International Open Source Network: "Position Statement on Software Neutrality and Openness" from MOSSA (Malaysia Open Source Software Alliance)
- Culo cazzo: "Position Statement on Software Neutrality and Openness" from ...
- As Suanie Sees It: proud
- yk's stuff: MOSSA!
- Alas, a blog!: Keeping things open!
- MoNSTer Blog: Invitation: OSS community round table on software neutrality and openness
Being neutral itself is of great help. In many cases, Open Source Platform offers clear advantages over proprietary platforms, but decisions were made on proprietary software simply because it is considered "safe decision". Cheers.
Posted by: Vincent Lee Hong Fay | Thursday, 07 December 2006 at 02:21 PM
"open file formats" should be changed to be more inclusive. "open formats" would be better, because you also want open protocols, etc.
Something like "open formats, including, but not limited to file formats, network protocols, etc"
Posted by: Tai | Saturday, 09 December 2006 at 01:11 AM
i endorse the position statement
Posted by: Raja Iskandar Shah | Saturday, 09 December 2006 at 07:18 PM
I endorse this statement.
Posted by: Kris Khaira | Saturday, 09 December 2006 at 11:08 PM
I endorse this position statement.
Posted by: Harisfazillah Jamel | Sunday, 10 December 2006 at 11:15 AM
Endorsed as an individual. Openess is a key factor in encouraging knowledge growth and exploring posibilities.
Posted by: Nicholas A. Suppiah | Monday, 11 December 2006 at 01:13 PM
As an individual, I endorse the position statement
Posted by: Afrezal Tahrin | Monday, 11 December 2006 at 07:05 PM
add my name to the list
Posted by: Tejinder Singh | Tuesday, 12 December 2006 at 01:42 PM
Tanpa sebarang keraguan, saya memberi sokongan yang tidak berbelah bahagi kepada "Position Statement" tersebut. OpenDocument Format merupakan pilihan utama untuk masa kini dan masa hadapan!
Posted by: Mohd Irwan Jamaluddin | Thursday, 14 December 2006 at 02:42 PM
Hi,
Please add my name to the list.
Thanks,
Mohammed Firdaus
Posted by: Mohammed Firdaus | Friday, 15 December 2006 at 02:58 PM
I endorse the position statement without reservations.
Posted by: Saharuddin Latiff | Monday, 18 December 2006 at 02:08 PM
Elementary yes, all the way from abroad ;)
Mohd Sharazad Saiful Bahri,
BA(Hons)Industrial Econs,
Nottingham Uni Business School,
University of Nottingham,
United Kingdom.
www.mohdsharazad.blogspot.com
Posted by: Sharazad | Monday, 18 December 2006 at 07:58 PM
I endorse this statement as I believe our government is already make too much investment on the compliance using a productivity tools where only 30% of the functionality are used. Especially out Lembaga Hasil Dalam Negeri using taxpayer money & force all the citizen to use proprietary in order to do e-Filing.
Posted by: John Mah | Tuesday, 19 December 2006 at 04:21 PM
Of course, I endorse this statement.
Posted by: drizad | Thursday, 21 December 2006 at 11:44 AM
totally on top of things. malaysia boleh !
Posted by: tropicaljantie | Tuesday, 09 January 2007 at 02:14 AM
yes...malaysia boleh..!!
Posted by: SEOmaster | Wednesday, 24 January 2007 at 09:37 PM
I endorse this position statement as an individual.
Posted by: Jacob Thomas Jr | Saturday, 27 January 2007 at 12:24 AM
Xanadu Solutions endorses the position statement
Posted by: Patrick Cheong Shu Yang | Wednesday, 31 January 2007 at 07:43 PM
I endorse this statement as I believe our government is already make too much investment on the compliance using a productivity tools where only 30% of the functionality are used. Especially out Lembaga Hasil Dalam Negeri using taxpayer money & force all the citizen to use proprietary in order to do e-Filing.
Posted by: sanateseri | Sunday, 11 March 2007 at 10:20 AM
Sanateseri,
Thank you, but if you want to be listed above as an endorser, please submit your real name in full, organization (if you want to have your organization endorse the statement), email address, contact number and website (if available).
Posted by: Hasan | Monday, 12 March 2007 at 12:27 PM
i endorse the position statement.
http://www.chatgroups.de
Posted by: sanateseri | Wednesday, 14 March 2007 at 08:18 PM
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Posted by: startoy | Sunday, 28 October 2007 at 09:41 AM