Small Gift From A Big Man

Bill Gates signed a memorandum of understanding with Malaysia's Ministry of Education for a RM10 million deal aimed at benefiting around 10,000 primary and secondary schools over the next five years. The money, comprising grants for kindergartens, primary and secondary schools, will be used to train students and teachers in information and communications technology (ICT) skills and integrate ICT into the educational curriculum.

The deal is part of Microsoft's US$253 million initiative for its global Partners In Learning (PIL) programme over the next five years to government agencies and schools around the world. On whether cheaper versions of Microsoft software is enough to counter the threat of Linux adoption in Asia, Gates replied:

"People are working in the commercial area and building their own intellectual property — they don't want to work in a place where all their work has to be given away. They want to create intellectual property so that every country that is making a contribution gets the payback for the investments they are making."