Govt to create innovation and creativity guide index to achieve TN50 - PM

He said the index would become one of the thrusts to empower Malaysia as one of the top 20 nations in the world in the long term.

He pointed out that innovation and creativity were important for any organisation, company or nation so that it would not lag behind in the increasingly competitive world.

Giving an example, he said a giant telephone company at one time, Nokia had been overtaken and the telecommunication market was now being dominated by smartphones such as Apple, Samsung and Huawei.

"This shows that only companies that adopt innovation will succeed in the increasingly competitive market.

"The same goes for a government, we have to deliver government service in a good and more effective manner in the interest and prosperity of the people.

"In the present situation of financial constraints due to external factors, we have to accept the fact. We must not complain and point fingers, on the contrary, we should consider it as a challenge. How we can do more with less. Here lies our capability to enculture innovation in our organisation, I am confident we can do more with less," he said.

He said this at the Prime Minister's Award for Innovation (AIPM) and Public Sector Innovation Award (AISA) night here. Also present was the Chief Secretary to the Government, Tan Sri Dr Ali Hamsa.