chapter 7 : finding a solution

In the end 1997, SKALI start to develop own portal which need CMS to easier manage data. At that time, SKALI have a problem about financial and make a decision use open source to develop system. In this way it save budget and give the software on the less prices better the competitor. As a chief programmer, Ivan Hoo create his own project CMS called Media Digital Alliance (MDA) and will be conduct with his friend Megat Husni Megat Hashim. SKALI will invest. Skali Digital Alliance was formed with SKALI holding 40% and MDA 60%. License fee for product would be split together and thus, when SKALI was listed, it will buy up the whole company. The earlier version CMS that created by Ivan and Megat was use to develop skali.com. Skali.com is a trial and marketing for CMS product that called NeoFission. In August 1999, SKALI entered the payment gateway business via joint venture with Camtech Asia IT&T. This joint venture called classic 'smart partnership'. Payment gateway allows secure online transactions. In the end 1999, the solutions business ready to marketed, and SKALI decided to leave the portal business. There are many competition from other locals portal players like Catcha.com were aggresively marketing themselves. After 3 years contract with AltaVista, SKALI did not renew. AltaVista had become passe by then. SKALI was one early adopters Open Source and the first portal try use PHP programming. SKALI also the first offering 'Linux-based hosting'. SKALI can save RM15million by using OS platform. Dr. Mahathir decided that Malaysia must start looking OS and instruct the MAMPU ready to use it. SKALI were invited to give several input about this issues. MAMPU proposed the creation of Open Source Competency Centre. DRB-Hicom interesting since they had launced Linux-based personal computer. The government decide to award the project consortium consisting DRB as lead partner and SKALI as junior partner.