Push for access to satellite services
Posted on December 18, 2011, Sunday
KOTA KINABALU: Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Dr Yee Moh Chai said yesterday he would look into amending the law to enable the people to access information through satellite services.
Dr Yee, who is Resource Development and Information Technology Minister, said an opinion poll his ministry conducted showed that 99 per cent of the people wanted freedom of access to information, especially through satellite services.
There is a growing need for the use of satellite services, through satellite dishes, in the remote areas of Sabah where telecommunications signals were weak, he told reporters after launching the “Siok Bah Broadband” carnival at the Likas Sports Complex here.
Meanwhile, Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) chairman Datuk Mohamed Sharil Tarmizi said more than 59,000 netbooks have been given to students and eligible candidates, while 131 villages had Internet wireless installed in Sabah as of November 30.
He said various projects had been implemented by the federal government to improve the Internet broadband penetration in the state.
“A total of 19 Community Broadband Centres (PJK), 23 Mini PJKs and one Community Broadband Centre (PJL) have been built and have started operating.
“MCMC will continue its relationship with service suppliers and the state government in order to implement the planning of 16 new PJKs and 23 PJLs,” said Sharil in his speech which was delivered by MCMC Service and Support chief officer Tengku Zaib Raja Ahmad at the launching of the carnival.
Sharil added that 277 locations would be installed with wireless connections and more than 112,000 netbooks under the third phase of 1 Malaysia Netbook project would be given out.
Thousands of Kota Kinabalu voters gathered at the carnival yesterday to register for the 1Malaysia Netbook sponsored by MCMC.
