KUCHING: Having the state’s own mobile Internet service provider (ISP) is a long-term plan to provide Internet access throughout Sarawak including its remote rural areas.
Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) vice president Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi said the state cannot solely rely on existing telecommunication companies (telcos) because their priorities were wide and varied and did not focus on the people of Sarawak.
“That is the reason why Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg, who pioneered the state digital economy, thought that the best step was to set up our own Internet service provider company.
“The plan is to create Internet access in whole of Sarawak instead of being limited to urban areas,” he said in a statement today (July 20).
He was commenting on Democratic Action Party (DAP) Sarawak chairman Chong Chieng Jen’s remarks that Abang Johari should abandon the idea to operate a mobile Internet service provider company as the cost would be very high.
To this, Dr Abdul Rahman further explained that the long-term plan could not be implemented by the private telcos because they were more into prioritising their business profits.
“These companies are not able to get into remote areas in the interior to provide basic Internet facilities despite being given government subsidies.
“There is no guarantee that they are capable of providing and maintaining the facilities continuously and for a long, long time,” he said.
Dr Abdul Rahman, who is also Assistant Minister of Utilities (Water Supply), said the rights of the rural people to basic facilities and amenities cannot be denied.
“With the Internet becoming a daily necessity for all people, it is necessary for Sarawak to have its own Internet service provider.
“No one should deny the rights of the people including those in remote rural areas from getting telecommunication coverage for the purpose of development,” he said.
Last Wednesday (July 15), Abang Johari said he met with Communication and Multimedia Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah from whom he asked for the Universal Service Provision (USP) licence for Sarawak Multimedia Authority (SMA) to provide Internet service in the state’s rural areas.
“I told the minister to give the licence to SMA which will operate in these areas. If there are operational losses, the government will bear them. It is so important for the people to have access to the Internet,” said Abang Johari.
