Rais: Putrajaya targets 4,000 villages to have WiFi by year-end
KOTA BELUD (Sabah), Sept 1 — The federal government targets to have 4,000 villages in the country equipped with wireless Internet broadband or WiFi by the end of this year, Information, Communications and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim said today.
Rais (picture) said up to 3,100 villages now enjoyed the facility.
“We will look into the best way to make available the facility. If there is no broadband tower nearby, we will provide the facility in stages with the construction of the tower under the first phase,” he told reporters after launching the Sabah state-level 1 Malaysia Community carnival in Kampung Rampayan Laut near here.
Rais said it cost between RM40,000 and RM50,000 to establish a WiFi village.
However, the construction of a broadband tower cost between RM400,000 and RM500,000, he added.
He said Kampung Rampayan Laut would be made a WiFi village soon.
The minister urged the 1 Malaysia Community throughout the country to help explain the 1 Malaysia concept to the people through practical means.
He said that besides disseminating information on government policies through carnivals, the 1 Malaysia Community should also practise noble values and volunteer assistance to the needy.
“We hope that the 1 Malaysia Community is also able to shower love, offer co-operation, carry out ‘gotong royong’ (self-help) and revive local arts,” he said. — Bernama
