[ossig] [myoss] ODF as a Malaysian Standard

[Ow Mun Heng]

On Tue, 2006-10-31 at 15:01 +0800, Ditesh Kumar wrote:
> > To help you get started, here is a sample email
> > you can modify/pick&choose to send off to SIRIM
> 
> Another comment is available for "inspiration" (you know what I mean :p)
> here:
> 
> http://ditesh.gathani.org/blog/2006/10/31/public-comment-on-odf-as-a-malaysian-standard/

Here's mine.

I refer to SIRIM's advertisement in The New Straits Times dated
September 1st, 2006 requesting public comment on the adoption of the
Open Document Format as a Malaysian Standard and to express my gratitude
at the opportunity to submit my comments on the standard and its
adoption in Malaysia.

I am a home user as well as a developer and I see the ODF as being
useful for these purposes.

1. By having documents in a format which is Open and accessible,
everyone will have the opportunity to have equal access to any/all
documents which has been created by it without having to resort to
utilising high priced software and thus increase both business cost as
well as the cost of doing business.

2. End users will be free to choose upon the many software either Free
software or Paid software which supports this standard and have
inter-platform/OS/application portability for the years to come.

3. By adopting ODF as a national standard, I believe that this will help
reduce piracy rates in the country as users will not be attracted to
purchase/use pirated products in order to view the documents which they
have created or has been sent by colleagues/vendors etc. 

I believe that the ODF is a standard which will greatly improve
interoperatability and simplify collaboration between all parties.

I have been using ODF supported products extensively over the years and
have found that all my needs in daily usage are met.

Given ODF's adoption as an ISO standard, its global support by
countries, companies and organizations and its open format, I commend
SIRIM's proposal, and I support the adoption of ODF and ISO 26300 as a
Malaysian Standard.