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PUTRAJAYA: Families in the lowest income group B40, as well as students taking the Form 5 and Form 6 exams will be able to enjoy better Internet facilities in the first quarter of 2021.
Communications Minister Saifuddin Abdullah said the initiatives would be provided by the government through the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission, with the cooperation of six telecommunications companies.
He said that Celcom, Digi, Maxis, U Mobile, Telekom Malaysia and Time would offer free WiFi access in general areas in 130 selected Popular Housing Projects until the end of April.
“The hours of operation of all Community Internet Centers will be expanded and will now be open from 9 am to 9 pm every day,” he said today in a statement.
Saifuddin said that the government, with the cooperation of industry players, would also implement the Jaringan Prihatin subsidy program for the B40 group as provided in the 2021 budget.
The program is expected to start in March and involves the provision of telecom credit worth RM 180 per person or RM 15 per month, or a subsidy to cover part of the cost of purchasing smart devices for the B40 group, he said.
Saifuddin said the provision of free 1GB data, which was supposed to end on December 31, will run until the start of the Jaringan Prihatin subsidy program.
He said telecommunications companies would also introduce a special 2021 SPM / STPM data package until the end of the exams in late April 2021. The package is expected to be offered starting January 6, 2021.
“I hope that the initiatives that are offered will directly benefit the B40 group and make it easier for SPM and STPM candidates in preparing for their exams,” he said.
