Malaysian Industrial Standards Committee for IT (ISC-G) vote on OOXML

On March 27th 2008, the Malaysian Industrial Standards Committee for IT (ISC-G) convened, and one of its many points of discussion was the OOXML issue. This committee is set up to have a higher level overview of the political, economic and technical impact of standards ready for its approval.

Like for the case of TC4, there was no consensus building in the meeting, as the chair said all that was required is to receive the various positions of the committee. So the voting happened by paper, and the submission was for 10am the next day. Many members, who were already represented in TC4, submitted their decisions immediately.

Here are results of ISC-G on the position for Malaysia should take on the Approval of ISO/IEC 29500 as an international standard through the fast track process:

Approval:

1. PIKOM - Association of the Computer and Multimedia Industry of Malaysia
2. MIMOS Berhad
3. MDeC - Multimedia Development Corporation

Disapproval:

1. ACEM - Association of Consulting Engineers Malaysia
2. FMM - Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers
3. KPDNHEP - Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs
4. MAMPU - Malaysian  Administrative Modernisation and Management Planning Unit
   
5. MCMC - Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission
   
6. MNCC - Malaysian National Computer Confederation
7. MTSFB - Malaysian Technical Standards Forum Berhad
8. MINDEF - Ministry of Defence
9. KTAK - Ministry of Energy, Water & Communications
10. MMU - Multimedia University
11. Telekom Malaysia Berhad
12. IEM - The Institution of Engineers, Malaysia
13. UTM - Universiti Teknologi Malaysia

Abstain:

1. DSM - Department of Standards Malaysia
2. MITI - Ministry of International Trade and Industry
3. INTAN - National Institute of Public Administration
4. MICCI - Malaysian International Chamber of Commerce and Industry
5. MoSTI - Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation

The final results were therefore: 3 Approvals, 13 Disapprovals and 5 Abstentions.

It must be noted that the committee members also provided technical concerns and advisory comments like:

"TC4 deliberation on this matter during the meeting highlighted clear recommendation for this [Disapproval]"

"Looks like it's [DIS 29500] is a product specification and needs to go through normal process for approval"

"Draft is not mature for approval with 6000 pages. It must be thoroughly reviewed technically and not go through a fast track process"

"No final draft prepared"

Although it is a resounding "Disapprove" from ISC-G, with a super majority of 81% (13/16), this is NOT the final position of Malaysia on this issue, as the decision ultimately resides on the shoulders of the Minister of Science Technology and Innovation.

It also must be noted that DSM and MoSTI have consistently "Abstained" on this matter. I have had interaction with responsible civil servants within these agencies who have indicated their personal positions, which is to Disagree with the approval of OOXML, as all the other Ministries have.

So, by 28th March 2008, we have super majorities in both TC4 and ISC-G to Disapprove OOXML, and the good Minister would have ample information and advice on what to decide on. There is good consensus amongst Industry, End Users and Government Agencies that OOXML is not ready for standardisation.

Malaysia's decision is still not public yet, and I will await that news before I pass my personal opinion on this matter.

yk

Comments

[Nil Einne]

It seems to me it's misleading to say there was a supermajority. A majority voted to disapprove of 13/21 i.e. 62% not 13/16 i.e. 81% as you claim. Ignoring the absentions is just silly especially since Malaysia voted to abstain anyway. (If everyone had voted to abstain and one voted to approve, I'm sure you wouldn't be saying Malaysia should have voted to approve.) Should Malaysia have voted to disapprove? Probably, but you don't help your case by skewing the statistics to appear more favourable then they are.

[Ditesh Gathani]

@Nil Einne,

You must not be familar with ISO and standards voting processes. Disregarding abstentions in calculations of supermajorities is standard behaviour, as dictated by both the Malaysian National Body and ISO. If you have a beef with how they calculate votes, take it up with ISO or the Malaysian National Body, not with Yoon Kit (or any one of us).

[carlos]

Nil, this is how supermajority is computed: skipping the abstentions.

ISO uses similar voting in JTC1 fast-tracking.

[Nil Einne]

Apologies, I was not aware the ISO used such an odd method of calculating supermajorities.