KUALA LUMPUR: Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil (pic) says he will be holding an engagement session with Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB) and all telecommunications service providers on Saturday (Feb 25) to discuss the 5G coverage in the country.
He said among things to be discussed was for DNB to be managed in a more transparent and open manner.
"There were plans for me to go overseas to attend some programmes, but I cancelled them following the Prime Minister's announcement (regarding DNB), so my focus and that of the ministry now is to hold an engagement session with DNB and all telecommunications service providers,” he said in a live interview session by RTM in Parliament Friday (Feb 24).
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim when tabling Budget 2023 in the Dewan Rakyat today said the Unity Government was taking an approach to ensure DNB was managed more transparently and comprehensively to achieve full participation by telecommunication service providers.
Fahmi said one of the objectives that would be set was for DNB is to ensure 5G coverage in 80% of populated areas nationwide by the end of this year.
Meanwhile, when met by Bernama, he said the RM10mil allocation for the National Scam Response Centre (NSRC) would help in the fight against scams in the country.
"Action should also be taken, for example, to strengthen the Personal Data Protection Act and create a Cyber Security Commission. This is among the efforts being planned by the ministry to ensure the effectiveness of the NSRC in combating scams in our country," he said.
Overall, he said, Budget 2023 had something for everyone.
"Providing aid to padi farmers as well as a profit sharing of 30% of the net profit from Bernas (Padiberas Nasional Bhd) is something that was never thought of, but has been successfully done," he said.
Earlier, Anwar announced that in addition to the RM60mil contribution provided, Bernas had also agreed to contribute 30% of its net profit from rice imports to padi farmers.
Meanwhile, in a media statement, Fahmi said the RM102mil allocation for the Digital Content Fund would open up more opportunities for artists to produce various creative works of high quality that were also able to penetrate the international market. - Bernama
