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PUTRAJAYA – Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin today launched the Jaringan Prihatin Programme involving an allocation of RM3.5 billion in an effort to bridge the B40 group’s digital gap.
He said the programme will benefit approximately 8.5 million B40 people who will be able to own smartphones or enjoy a broadband internet plan.
The government will provide RM2 billion of the total allocation, while telecommunication companies and service providers will chip in with the remaining RM1.5 billion, especially in terms of free data, he said at the launch of the programme here today.
The government, Muhyiddin said, was aware that there was still a lot of room for improvement in the aspects of network coverage, penetration, and speed, especially in some low-density rural areas.
He said the government had even agreed to the upgrading of broadband services nationwide through the RM21 billion National Digital Network Plan, which includes a fibre optic plan and increased 4G coverage by 2022.
The government will also expedite the provision of 5G infrastructure with a private investment through Digital Nasional Bhd, estimated at RM15 billion.
Also present was Finance Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz.
“In order to bridge the digital gap among the community, there is a need to ensure that everyone can get access at a reasonable cost, and has the skill to make optimal use of the internet by 2030,” he said.
The Jaringan Prihatin Programme is a collaboration between the Finance Ministry, the Communications and Multimedia Ministry, as well as 12 telecommunication companies in Malaysia, namely, Celcom, Digi, Maxis, Mcalls, redONE, speakOUT, Tune Talk, U Mobile, unifi Mobile, XOX Mobile, YES, and Yoodo.
Zafrul said the programme was announced as part of the 2021 budget, with an original allocation of RM1.5 billion.
Taking into account the large number of B40 families with children, especially those with school-going children, he said an additional RM500 million had been allocated for the programme under the Pemerkasa package announced last March.
He added that telcos are also offering additional benefits worth RM1.5 billion, bringing the total value to RM3.5 billion for BPR recipients.
Under the programme, eligible recipients can opt for either a device package or a monthly data plan package.
B40 families with children under 18 years old can either claim a sum of RM300 for the device package or a RM180 monthly data plan rebate for 12 months, while B40 families with no children under 18 years old may claim for a device package rebate of RM180 or a RM120 monthly data plan for 12 months.
Registration for Jaringan Prihatin Programme will be open from May 5 to July 31.
Eligible recipients can register with the telco of their choice and join any of the plans recognised under the programme. – Bernama, May 5, 2021
