Sarawak : Broadband reduces rural-urban digital divide

BRINGING THE WORLD CLOSER: Awang Tengah (second left) launching the Sarawak Rural Broadband Initiative programme in Kuala Lawas witnessed by (from left) Abang Jemat, Entri, Sum and others.


The Sarawak Rural Broadband Initiative (SRBI) has reduced rural-urban digital divide and brought the state’s rural areas into the global village with vast socio-economic development opportunities.

Sarawak is the only state in Malaysia to introduce broadband in the rural areas, including schools, for free in its drive for 50 per cent Internet penetration rate by the end of this year.

Second Minister of Planning and Resource Management Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan said this at the launching of SRBI by Sacofa Sdn Bhd and Danawa Resources Sdn Bhd for SK Kuala Lawas and SK Kampung Seberang at Kampung Dato here Tuesday.

He pointed out that IT and ICT expansion into rural areas in the state should result in a quantum leap in knowledge and economic returns and opportunities through the access into the global market stage.

“Small places such as those in Bario are now in the world stage with promotion in the Internet, drawing more tourists and with SRBI, we can bring the world closer to us and vice-versa,” he said.

“Products and places we take for granted can be packaged into attractive tourism products as they are unique to outsiders.”

Awang Tengah pointed out that SRBI in rural areas such Julau, Semop and Kuala Lawas, would benefit both students and the local community from the exposure and availability of the facilities and service.

He urged the community and villager leaders to learn to use such facilities in their area to keep up with the changes and enhance their knowledge which were available at the click of the button.

Sacofa was entrusted with setting up of communication towers according to international standards in collaboration with the Malaysian Communications Multimedia Commission (MCMC) while Danawa is involved in spearheading the wi-fi technology for broadband connections in the state.

Managing director of Sacofa Sdn Bhd Abang Jemat Abang Bujang said the SRBI programme was a joint venture project between Sacofa and Danawa Resources as the catalyst of human capital and technological development as outlined by the Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud at the PBB convention in Miri in 2007.

The main challenges when integrating technology in education for rural schools throughout Sarawak were the lack of funding, and limitation in terms of physical and communication infrastructure.

Under the Cambridge ICT Starters programme, the Intel Classmate PCs resolves some of these issues because it is a rugged mobile device and offers wireless connectivity.

Assistant Minister of Public Utilities (Water Supply) Sylvester Entri, Lawas member of parliament Datuk Henry Sum, Bukit Kota assemblyman Dr Abdul Rahman Ismail, Batu Danau assemblyman Paulus Palu Gumbang, Ba Kelalan assemblyman Nelson Balang Rining, permanent secretary to the Ministry of Public Utilities Ubaidillah Latip, Abang Jemat and Limbang Resident Maria Hasman were among those present.