By DayakDaily Team
BELAGA, Feb 7: Around 20,000 residents from 15 longhouses and three schools in Sungai Asap are now enjoying high-speed broadband access following the implementation of the High-Speed Broadband Project, which cost RM37 million.
The project, launched under the Sungai Asap Digital Village initiative, aims to bridge the digital divide between urban and rural communities, ensuring equitable access to advanced telecommunications services.
Deputy Minister of Telecommunication Datuk Liwan Lagang said the project involved the installation of 140 kilometres of fibre optic cables and the construction of a telecommunications tower across 28 sites.
“This initiative benefits 15 longhouses of the Kenyah, Kayan, Lahanan, Seping, Ukit, and Penan communities.
“In addition, it also serves seven government agencies, three schools, and two houses of worship,” he said in a media release after officiating the closing ceremony of the High-Speed Broadband Project Engagement Session at the local community hall on Friday (Feb 6).
Liwan highlighted that the project leverages Sarawak Energy’s Right of Way (ROW) to accelerate the delivery of affordable high-speed broadband to rural areas, supporting education, healthcare, governance, and digital commerce in line with the Sarawak government’s Post-Covid-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030.
Murum assemblyman Kennedy Chukpai Ugon described the project as a catalyst for socio-economic development in Sungai Asap.
“It opens opportunities for e-government services, digital education, smart agriculture, and public safety systems, while strengthening rural entrepreneurship, online marketplaces, and innovation-driven businesses,” he said.
Sarawak Multimedia Authority (SMA) deputy general manager Ts Dr Suhaila Jaffar noted that a similar SMA project in Sebauh, Bintulu in 2022 had already shown positive outcomes, and the Sungai Asap expansion aims to facilitate digital transformation across the community.
The ceremony was also attended by Sacofa CEO Jafer Sadig Abdul Lathiff and representatives from government and corporate agencies including the Land and Survey Department, Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), Rural Water Supply Department (JBALB), Sarawak Energy, Telekom Malaysia, and the Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation (SDEC). — DayakDaily
