Give us more funds for telco coverage, Sarawak deputy minister tells Putrajaya
KUCHING, March 21 — Sarawak Deputy Minister of Utility and Telecommunications Datuk Liwan Lagang today called for commitment and close cooperation from the federal government, especially in providing more funds for the implementation of telecommunication infrastructure in Malaysia’s largest state.
He said Sarawak needs about 7,000 telecommunication towers and structures to achieve full coverage, including about 3,500 towers and structures that are already in operation at the moment.
“The current 4G network coverage in Sarawak is only 54 per cent of the populated areas. There are many rural areas yet to be provided with telecommunication services,” he said in a statement.
He was responding to a recent statement by federal Minister of Communications and Digital Ahmad Fahmi Fadzil that the current 4G network coverage in Malaysia is 97 per cent of populated areas.
Liwan said the state only hears of federal Deputy Minister of Communications and Digital Teo Nie Ching’s visit to Sarawak from news reports and hoped she could give prior notice in future for “meaningful” discussions to take place.
He said the state government recognises that access to reliable communication is essential for economic growth.
“In the post Covid-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030, which is a comprehensive plan to steer Sarawak towards a high-income economy region by 2030, one of the key enablers to accelerate the economic growth is through Digital Transformation.”
He said although the responsibility to develop telecommunication infrastructure lies with the federal government, the Sarawak government, nevertheless, has spent RM1.89 billion to fast track the telecommunication development especially in the rural areas.
“This showed our commitment and seriousness to provide full coverage to our people and reduce the digital divide in the rural areas and communities of Sarawak,” Liwan said.
He also said that the state government has put a lot of effort into improving the telecommunication coverage in Sarawak, including the establishment of the Sarawak Multimedia Authority Ordinance in 2017 to regulate the activities with regards to digitalisation matters.
“Subsequently, government agencies such as Sarawak Multimedia Authority and Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation Berhad were set up to spearhead and facilitate the development and implementation of the communication, multimedia and the Sarawak's Digital Economy initiatives, including the development of telecommunication,” he said.
