By Adrian Lim
MULU, April 7: More than 1,200 telecommunication towers will be built in Sarawak by 2022.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said the Digital Economy Strategy (2018-2022) he launched in 2017 had planned for 1,200 telecommunication towers to be built in Sarawak.
The rollout will be coordinated between Sarawak Multimedia Authority (SMA) and Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC).
“In Sarawak, we built approximately 600 telecommunication towers and MCMC will roll out within this period another 686 telecommuncation towers under the National Digital Network Project (Jendela) scheme.
“This means, more than 1,200 telecommunicaiton towers in Sarawak including the old ones will be constructed,” he said in his speech during the event to launch high speed broadband connectivity to Mulu at Mulu Marriot here today.
Abang Johari said Internet connectivity at tourism spots such as Mulu National Park, which is a heritage site, and Niah National Park will be upgraded.
With high speed Internet connection, he believed the State government would be able to promote its national parks to tourists around the world aggressively.
He expressed confidence that the tourism industry will recover strongly post-Covid-19 boosted by green travel bubbles implemented by the government.
On another note, Abang Johari who is also the Finance and Economic Planning Minister disclosed that Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah has applied for Niah National Park to be recognised as a cultural heritage site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) through the federal government.
As national parks are tourist attractions, he noted, the state government is committed to preserving them.
Meanwhile, Abang Johari also disclosed the State government is planning to improve air connectivity to Mulu as greater air connectivity will attract more tourists to visit Mulu and other national parks in Sarawak.
Among those present during the launch were Abdul Karim, Assistant Minister of Urban Development and Resources Datu Len Talif Salleh, Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation (SDEC) chairman Tan Sri Mohamad Morshidi Abdul Ghani, Mulu assemblyman Dato Gerawat Gala and Sacofa Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Mohamed Zaid Zaini. — DayakDaily
