Kota Kinabalu: The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has been urged to appoint capable and experienced Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) to implement Part 2 of Jalinan Digital Negara (Jendela) Phase 2, particularly in Sabah’s rural and interior areas.
Sabah Education, Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk James Ratib said the appointed MNOs must possess the necessary technical capabilities, operational capacity and proven track record to ensure projects not only meet stipulated timelines but also deliver good and consistent connectivity after completion.
“We want MNOs that are appointed to have not only the ability to complete projects within the stipulated timeframe, but also to deliver good and consistent connectivity after the projects are completed,” he said in a statement on Wednesday.
James said the Sabah government welcomed and appreciated the federal government’s efforts, particularly through MCMC, in rolling out Jendela 2 to further strengthen digital infrastructure and connectivity nationwide, including in Sabah.
He said the state government particularly appreciated the commitment to expanding Internet access in rural and interior areas that continued to face challenges in terms of coverage and telecommunications infrastructure.
“However, we want to ensure that the implementation of Jendela 2 is not measured solely by the number of projects delivered or whether they are completed on schedule. More importantly, the people of Sabah must receive Internet services that are of good quality, stable and reliable,” he said.
James said previous experience, particularly concerning internet connectivity performance in schools across Sabah, should serve as an important lesson in the implementation of new projects.
“We have previously raised concerns over the performance of internet connectivity in Sabah schools. Therefore, we do not want the same shortcomings to be repeated, especially in rural and interior areas where communities are highly dependent on reliable digital connectivity,” he said.
He said stable Internet connectivity was no longer an additional facility for the education sector but an essential requirement to ensure teachers and students could effectively access digital learning, educational platforms and online resources.
He also expressed the state government’s appreciation for the cooperation of the federal government and MCMC in efforts to bridge the digital divide between urban, rural and interior communities.
“We welcome Jendela 2 and remain ready to work closely with the federal government and MCMC. At the same time, we want to ensure that the interests of the people of Sabah continue to be given due consideration, particularly in terms of the quality and reliability of Internet services.
“Sabah wants Jendela 2 to be not only completed on schedule, but to deliver meaningful and quality connectivity to the people.
“Therefore, we hope MCMC will appoint capable and experienced MNOs with the capacity to properly implement Part 2 of Jendela 2, particularly in Sabah’s rural and interior areas,” he said.
