On the ground: Fahmi answering questions from the media at the Batang Padang District Information Office in Tapah, Perak. — Bernama
KUALA LUMPUR: A sum of RM200mil will be allocated to boost Internet connectivity at Mara’s educational institutions.
Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said the fund would be channelled through the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC).
Of the total fund, RM150mil had been approved earlier.
“I have a niece who is studying at Universiti Teknologi Mara Dengkil.
“When I visited the campus, I noticed that every room had its own WiFi router.
“This is a good standard that could be adopted by other institutions.
“I have since requested that we allocate an additional RM50mil, bringing the total to RM200mil, to resolve the Internet issues at Mara educational institutions,” he said during a Hari Raya Aidilfitri event at Universiti Poly-Tech Malaysia (UPTM) here yesterday.
Fahmi said that improved Internet accessibility must be aligned with user awareness, urging students not to misuse the facility, get involved in crime or spread slander.
“I hope Mara can work together with the ministry and MCMC to promote safe Internet connectivity,” he added.
In January, Fahmi said his ministry, through MCMC, was set to invest over RM600mil to improve WiFi access at all public universities across the country.
This project is expected to be completed by year-end, he added.
Yesterday’s event also saw a memorandum of understanding (MoU) inked between MCMC and Mara to improve the Internet connectivity.
The MoU would involve Maktab Rendah Sains Mara, Institut Kemahiran Mara, Kolej Kemahiran Tinggi Mara, Mara-Japan Industrial Institute, Kolej Poly-Tech Mara, Kolej Profesional Mara, Kolej Mara, Universiti Kuala Lumpur, German-Malaysia Institute and GiatMara.
This initiative will facilitate learning and enable students to make use of Internet access for their daily needs.
The MoU also involves the Safe Internet campaign to develop awareness among students and staff.
Earlier, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said in his opening speech that a proposal to expand UPTM campus had been agreed upon.
The proposal, he said, would be presented to the Cabinet next week as part of the efforts to support UPTM’s growth, which continues to see increasing demand for its academic programmes.
“There is a pressing need to expand the campus, given the encouraging response to the courses offered at UPTM.
“With demand on the rise, it is crucial that the university is equipped with a larger facility,” said Ahmad Zahid.
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