PAKAN: Unauthorised sale of government-issued 1Malaysia notebooks is not serious but the Ministry of Information Communications and Culture is keeping ‘hawk eyes’ on the situation, said deputy minister Datuk Joseph Salang.
“We have directed the Malaysian Communications and MultiMedia Commissions (MCMC) to investigate reports that some units have been found in computer shops in a shopping complex in the federal capital.
“We are taking Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s concerns on the issue very seriously,” he told reporters after attending the annual Pesta Pakan here Friday night.
He believed they could not have been intentionally sold but could have been probably stolen and then sold.
“If this is the case, it is very serious and should be stopped.
“And we would like to remind the buyers that they could be charged for keeping stolen property or for having unauthorised possession of government property,” he said.
He said the government was distributing a total of one million units for students from needy families and some community leaders nationwide to have practical computer knowledge and for them to access the Internet.
“This is to help them in the overall education process and for the leaders in their management,” Salang said.
He said before the end of this year, the government planned to distribute another 300,000 units to add to the 123,000 it had given out.
“And if the distribution can proceed smoothly, we may distribute the balance as well,” he said.
Meanwhile, speaking at the function, Salang said he hoped the organisers could add in competitions on the Iban’s oral traditions like the ‘Beremban’ and the ‘berbiau’ (ritual chantings), ‘berpantun’ (poem), the ‘Gendang Papat’ (group beating of the skin drums) and others.
He said this would help in preserving them besides introducing them to the new generation. — Bernama