By JOHN TAMBANAN
KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah State Government welcomes and appreciates the Federal Government’s efforts, particularly by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), in rolling out the Jalinan Digital Negara (Jendela) Phase 2 to further strengthen digital infrastructure and connectivity nationwide, including in Sabah.
Sabah Minister of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, Datuk James Ratib, said the State Government appreciates the commitment, particularly in expanding Internet access to rural and interior areas that continue to face challenges in terms of coverage and telecommunications infrastructure.
“However, we want to ensure that the implementation of Jendela 2 is not measured solely by the number of projects delivered or whether they are completed on schedule. More importantly, the people of Sabah must receive Internet services that are of good quality, stable and reliable,” he said yesterday
He said previous experience, particularly concerning Internet connectivity performance in schools across Sabah, should serve as an important lesson in the implementation of new projects.
“We have previously raised concerns over the performance of Internet connectivity in Sabah schools. Therefore, we do not want the same shortcomings to be repeated, especially in rural and interior areas where communities are highly dependent on reliable digital connectivity,” he said.
According to him, for the education sector, stable Internet connectivity is no longer an additional facility, but an essential requirement to ensure that teachers and students can effectively access digital learning, educational platforms and online resources.
“Sabah will not compromise on the quality of connectivity, particularly in rural areas. Once a project has been implemented and deemed completed, the people should be able to enjoy services that genuinely function well and meet their needs,” he stressed.
In this regard, he urged MCMC to ensure that the companies or Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) appointed to implement Part 2 of Jendela 2 possess the necessary technical capabilities, operational capacity and proven track record.
“We want MNOs that are appointed not only to have the ability to complete projects within the stipulated timeframe, but also to deliver good and consistent connectivity after the projects are completed,” he said.
He stressed that service quality must be given equal importance alongside the development of telecommunications infrastructure.
“For Sabah, the success of Jendela 2 should not be measured merely by how many towers are built or how many areas are classified as having coverage.
The real measure of success is whether people in these areas can actually access the Internet effectively, consistently and reliably in their daily lives,” he said.
He also stressed that the Sabah State Government appreciates the cooperation of the Federal Government and MCMC in efforts to bridge the digital divide between urban, rural and interior communities.
“We welcome Jendela 2 and remain ready to work closely with the Federal Government and MCMC. At the same time, we want to ensure that the interests of the people of Sabah continue to be given due consideration, particularly in terms of the quality and reliability of Internet services,” he said.
“Sabah wants Jendela 2 to be not only completed on schedule, but to deliver meaningful and quality connectivity to the people. Therefore, we hope MCMC will appoint capable and experienced MNOs with the capacity to properly implement Part 2 of Jendela 2, particularly in Sabah’s rural and interior areas,” he said.
‘We have previously raised concerns over the performance of Internet connectivity in Sabah schools. Therefore, we do not want the same shortcomings to be repeated, especially in rural and interior areas where communities are highly dependent on reliable digital connectivity’ – James
