Ensuring 90% internet penetration rate

> Service upgrade being done in urban, rural areas to reach target, says Jailani

KUALA LUMPUR: The government is committed to ensuring that the internet penetration rate in the country will surpass 90% by 2020, said Deputy Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Jailani Johari ( pix).

Works to upgrade the internet service were not only being done in urban areas, but also in rural areas, including in Sabah and Sarawak, he said.

“In 2010, the prime minister (Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak) launched the national broadband plan and our target back then was only to achieve 50% household broadband penetration … but now, the household broadband penetration rate has reached 84.5% nationwide.

“We will continue implementing our programmes with the government’s allocation, but at the same time, the private sector or the service providers must also expand their service network or internet penetration because it is the government’s aspiration to reduce the digital gap (between urban and rural areas),” he said after appearing on Bernama News Channel programme.

Jailani said in facing the fourth industrial revolution, the ministry, through the National Blue Ocean Strategy had collaborated with numerous agencies to implement technology development awareness programmes.

He said the ministry would continue implementing relevant programmes to ensure that the people were exposed to Industry 4.0, which would see the use of Internet of Things in all aspects of life.

In response to the government’s effort to address the issue of fake news, Jailani said legislation was not the solution to all problems.

“The best solution is through advocacy or creating awareness because the people in Malaysia like to share what they know.”