KUCHING, Dec 10: Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department (Law, State-Federal Relations and Project Monitoring), Datuk Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali, has urged parties involved in supplying digital connectivity to internet-stressed areas to put the interests of the community first.
“If we all work together, it is the community that will reap the benefits. So I think we should not be too fixated on profits and losses. What’s important is to help the community,” she said when met by reporters after officiating at the launch of the Semariang Batu telecommunication site today.
On the telecommunication site project, Sharifah Hasidah expressed hopes for it to benefit the villagers. As a result, they will enjoy improved internet connectivity.
“The community leader here is very happy with the availability of this telecommunication tower because the local community is looking forward to having better internet connectivity.
“It is important for all of us to move together as a team in realising the State’s digitalisation agenda as aspired by our Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg,” she said.
At the same time, Sharifah Hasidah also called on the local community to preserve the telecommunication facilities in the area.
“Sarawak Multimedia Authority (SMA) and the contractors have been working hard to bring the project to the village. I am confident that the villagers will work together to ensure that the telecommunication tower is not vandalised as it is something that we welcome,” she added.
Meanwhile, SMA general manager Dr Zaidi Razak shared that the authority is actively building more telecommunication towers with service providers.
“Under the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), 636 towers will be built, and an additional 300 towers will be built by the Sarawak government, through Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation (SDEC); with 300 towers now under implementation.
“In total, more than 1,200 towers are expected to be completed by the end of 2022. This is in line with our target to provide internet penetration of more than 90 per cent by 2025 so that Sarawak can achieve a high-income economy by 2030,” added Zaidi. — DayakDaily
