People Of Sabah Want Free Info

An online petition launched by Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Dr Yee Moh Chai has proven his point - that people want freedom to access information without any restriction.

Ninety nine per cent of respondents to the petition, which was launched early this month by his Resource Development and Information Technology Ministry, agreed that they should be free to access information, especially through satellite devices.

The petition was to register what people feel about a Federal policy that restricts the use of parabolic discs and served as a platform for everyone to register and share their views on what needs to be done.

Dr Yee said the Ministry found the message needs to be conveyed to the relevant authority.

"We will through the State Government pass on this important message to ensure that as far as laws are concerned governing this receiving of satellite signals will be amended or modified according to the need and the relevancy and the true situation, especially for Sabah and Sarawak," he said after launching the State-level "Siok Bah Broadband Carnival" at the Likas Sports Complex, Saturday.

The online petition was launched following a recent crackdown by the Customs Department during which it confiscated 193 parabolic discs worth RM200,000 and the seizure sparked a public outcry.

Dr Yee said the ruling against the use of large parabolic discs was frustrating the progress of the country and did not reflect the real progress of ICT in the country.

Earlier, in his speech, he hoped the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and service provider companies would continue to implement ICT infrastructure development projects in the State so that the coverage and access to telecommunication and broadband services will increase.

Meanwhile, MCMC chairman Dato' Mohamed Sharil Tarmizi said as of Nov 30, the Internet broadband household penetration in Sabah stood at 32.7 per cent while Internet broadband subscription reached 293,400 people.

Apart from that, he said, the cellular phone penetration rate in the State for the second quarter of this year was 92 per cent.

Mohammed Shahril said for this year, 19 community broadband centres (CBC), 23 mini CBCs and 131 WiFi villages were established in Sabah.

He also said that 246 telecommunications towers were built and near 60,000 laptops distributed to students and selected groups under the 1Malaysia Netbook programme in the State.

"The effort will be continued next year and according to the plan, 16 new CBCs and 23 new Community Broadband Libraries will be built.

Apart from that 277 WiFi villages will be established and over 112,000 laptops distributed under the 1Malaysia Netbook Phase 3 project," he said.

His speech was delivered by MCMC Services and Support Chief Officer Tengku Zaib Raja Ahmad.

A total of 6,200 people received their netbooks under the 1Malaysia Netbook programme in the two-day carnival organised by MCMC in collaboration with the Culture and Communication Information Ministry and State government.

It is the last carnival for 2011 for the Sabah broadband promotion programme held since July this year.

Also present were Special Duties Officer to the Minister of Information, Communication and Culture Dato' Nazri Abdullah, State Information Department director Haji Almain Hj Ajirol and Resource Development and Information Technology Ministry Permanent Secretary Bruno Vun.