GEORGE TOWN – The Communications and Multimedia Ministry has set up a special committee in collaboration with Telekom Malaysia Bhd to identify areas with poor or no internet access to facilitate the home-based teaching and learning (PdPR) sessions.
Deputy Minister Datuk Zahidi Zainul Abidin said the ministry will go to the ground to see and monitor the areas and take immediate action.
“Since PdPR was implemented, we have received information of students facing such problems, with some having to walk long distances from their homes to get internet access.
“We hope that, through the committee, we can overcome the problem of no internet access or poor coverage not only in rural areas and interiors, but also in security areas, such as police stations or army camps.”
Other than Telekom Malaysia, he said the ministry will also request other telco companies to assist in ensuring rural areas could get good internet access.
“The committee wants to know from telecommunication companies why (rural areas have poor or no internet access) and the measures that can be taken to overcome the problems now that we are working on providing 4G coverage nationwide.
“In addition, the ministry has allocated RM15 million to the Education Ministry to be channelled to poor pupils to enable them to buy gadgets for PdPR.” – Bernama, June 27, 2021