PUTRAJAYA: There is no place in the government for little Napoleons who do not understand the importance of innovation.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said with the government being a pivotal component of the innovation ecosystem, it could not stop where it was at as more had to be done.

He said with the Government Transformation Programme already showing favourable results, players in the public sector had to bring innovation into the government and the government into innovation.

That role, he said, should involve every level of the sector from the highest downwards.

He said decision makers must be conversant with innovation as this would allow them to formulate frameworks, regulations and policies that support innovation, and not hinder its growth.

“Without favourable regulatory environment, innovation cannot stoke economic growth.

“We cannot have Little Napoleons who don’t understand innovation, but we need people who actually understand what needs to be done to support innovation.

“The role of the public servant is important in supporting an ecosystem that will nurture innovation,” Najib said at the launch of the “Malaysia: Innovation Nation National Convention” held at the Limkokwing University in Cyberjaya, near here yesterday.

Najib, who is also finance minister, said innovation should lead to generation of new wealth which was not possible before and also improve the lives of Malaysians.

He also said for innovation to flourish, the innovation ecosystem must provide for its players access to the right conditions to encourage and stimulate them while challenging them to innovate.

Najib said to nurture the innovation ecosystem, the education system also required a creative thinking ability.

“Creativity, unlike what was thought previously, is a highly organised and systematic activity… Michelangelo, the brilliant Italian painter and sculptor of the 16th century, was so methodical and structured in his creative process that his diary almost reads like a scientific journal.

“His ability to create masterpieces was built on preciseness, no more no less, similar to that seen in high-technology industries.

“For the innovation ecosystem to bring benefit to the country, we have to nurture this form of creative thinking in our education system. To nurture precise society.”

Najib shared with his audience his secret to keeping himself updated and knowledgeable, showing them his Apple iPhone 3GS.

The smart phone, he said, was his walking dictionary, which he referred to when necessary. Such technology allowed Malaysians ready access to information at the fingertips.

“Just look at Wikipedia, the world’s largest encyclopaedia, that is available online and is totally free for anyone to use.

“Wikipedia is a good example of (American) economist (Joseph Alois) Schumpeter’s idea of “creative destruction”, the traditional encyclopaedia no longer holds the appeal that it once did.

“... Even the dictionary is no longer that useful, and in fact, with my iPhone, I have a walking dictionary with me at all times,” he said, much to the glee of fellow users in the hall.