By Nur Ashikin Louis
SEBUYAU, May 6: Sarawak Minister of Utility and Telecommunication (MUT) Datuk Julaihi Narawi remained tight-lipped on whether Sarawak will set up its own telecommunication (telco) company.
“Well, wait and see lah (sic).
“But at the moment, I can tell you (that) we have a telco agency in Sarawak — Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation (SDEC), which is focusing (on) providing telco services in rural areas.
“So when you (reporters) ask whether there are any (plans to establish Sarawak-owned telco company), I think (we should) wait and see,” he told the press after a Majlis Ramah Tamah Aidilfitri programme at Sebuyau Development Hall here today.
Asked whether the matter would be brought up in the upcoming Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting this month, Julaihi, who is also Sebuyau assemblyman, further stated that SDEC, as a telco agency owned by the Sarawak government, is currently responsible for carrying out the same kind of work done by any other telco companies in Malaysia.
On April 30 this year, the Premier of Sarawak, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, during a function in Gedong, said that Sarawak is developing a telco company.
“We are currently developing a telco company (because) ‘ada tiang sikda kuali sik guna juak’ (having a tower but no satellite dish is pointless).
“We need many satellite dishes, which will boost our Internet connection throughout Sarawak, including rural schools.
“We are currently implementing this, and by 2025, all these would be completed, and Sarawak (would become) a leading State in the Internet field,” Abang Johari said. — DayakDaily
