Guest of honour: Thanenthiran (right) placing a garland on Zambry during the 16th Annual General Assembly of the Makkal Sakti Party of Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur. — MUHAMAD SHAHRIL ROSLI/The Star
KUALA LUMPUR: An estimated total of between RM700mil and RM1bil is needed to resolve Internet issues in public universities nationwide, says Datuk Seri Zambry Abd Kadir.
The Higher Education Minister said the funds were needed to boost and upgrade Internet facilities.
He said both the Higher Education and Communication ministries had met for discussions over the matter.
This comes after recent instructions from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and the Higher Education Ministry to promptly solve Internet connectivity issues in public universities.
“The universities have agreed to install communication towers and systems to improve their communication infrastructure.
“This has been finalised between the two ministries and involves a significant amount, around RM700mil to RM1bil.
“The funds will also cover polytechnics,” Zambry said after the Malaysia Makkal Sakti Party’s (MMSP) 16th annual general meeting (AGM) here yesterday.
Zambry, who is also Barisan Nasional secretary-general, represented Barisan president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi at the event.
Also present were MIC deputy president Datuk Seri M. Saravanan and Datuk Mohd Nazifuddin, the son of former premier Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
Separately, Zambry said any decision to include MMSP in the Barisan coalition must be made by consensus.
He said discussion about moves to include any “Friends of BN” will be discussed in the upcoming Barisan supreme council meeting.
Meanwhile, MMSP president Datuk Seri RS Thanenthiran affirmed the party’s strong support for Barisan.
He said their unwavering support for Barisan was shown during MMSP’s AGM.
“The party promises to remain as friends. We have never faltered. If other parties turned away, we didn’t.
“We trust Barisan leader... Ahmad Zahid,” Thanenthiran said, adding that the party will support his decisions.
He reiterated hopes of the party becoming a component of the coalition.
“For a long time, we have hoped to become a component of Barisan and fight alongside them.
“This has become a resolution – every year, we make this resolution to become a component (party),” he added.
