Improvements in internet access trigger a digital economy ‘quantum leap’
KUALA LUMPUR: Efforts to improve internet access can trigger a ‘quantum leap’ that can maximize the results of the country’s digital economy.
Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil said the effort could also help bridge the socio-economic gap between the people in urban and rural areas.
“It is important for us to make sure the basic things of access to the digital economy are improved, the internet needs to be fast and the internet package also needs to be cheap.
“We are making sure of that and there are things that need to be negotiated a little more…before that prepaid and after this God-willing there will be something for fixed line broadband as well,” he said when he was a guest on the Bual Konti program produced by RTM which was broadcast on RTM’s Facebook in the evening earlier.
Last December, Fahmi said the government will introduce the Mobile Internet Prepaid Unity Data Plan at twice the price of RM5 per month and three times faster, which will be on the market this February.
The introduction of the package is in line with the desire of the unity government under the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to reduce the cost of living and ensure comprehensive digital connectivity for Malaysians.
Fahmi said the development of the digital economy can restore Malaysia as an economic country in the region.
In addition, he said the Ministry of Communications and Digital (KKD) is also working to improve the local creative arts industry so that the country is not only able to produce internationally successful talent, but also produce works of art such as quality and high-quality films.
Fahmi said the success of Ipoh, Perak-born actress Tan Sri Michelle Yeoh, who made a name for herself in Hollywood and won the Golden Globe award recently, should be used as a fuel to improve the quality of local talent and artwork.
“We can change Malaysia’s position… not only as an exporter of talent… but want to export artworks for the world to see,” he said.
In other developments, Fahmi said his ministry is holding discussions with the Ministry of Youth and Sports (KBS) regarding the national sports agenda and the role that KKD can play.
