Communications Ministry aims to train 7,000 rural entrepreneurs in 2025
CYBERJAYA: The Communications Ministry aims to train 7,000 rural entrepreneurs in 2025 through the National Information Dissemination Centre (Nadi), which is managed by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC).
Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said that as of March 2025, a total of 4,000 entrepreneurs had received training – of whom more than 3,390 (approximately) 85%, were women, marking significant progress in empowering women within the sector.
He said the initiative seeks to empower more online entrepreneurs by equipping them with the skills needed to grow their businesses through e-commerce.
"This is a key initiative under Nadi designed to support local economic development and empower communities," he said.
Fahmi added that MCMC, through Nadi, continues to enhance digital literacy and support rural entrepreneurs.
"They have used fast Internet not only to improve their skills but also to access new markets.
"In some cases, I found they were producing products for international customers. Some even earn more than Members of Parliament," he said at an event held in conjunction with Girls in ICT Day (GICT) and the 160th anniversary of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) on Saturday (May 17).
He said that with better Internet connectivity, people no longer need to leave their hometowns for better opportunities.
Fahmi also outlined Malaysia's achievements under the National Digital Infrastructure Plan (Jendela), describing it as pivotal to the country's progress in digital connectivity.
"To date, over 9.03 million premises have access to high-speed internet and fibre connectivity – surpassing our original target of nine million by 2025.
"As a result, mobile broadband speeds have reached a median of 105.36 Mbps, while Internet coverage in populated areas rose to 98.66% in Q4 2024, steadily moving towards full coverage by 2025," he said.
He also said 5G coverage as of April 30, 2025 stands at 82.4% in populated areas, with a mobile penetration rate of 61%.
To mark ITU's 160th anniversary, a commemorative stamp was also unveiled.
Also present at the event were Communications Ministry secretary-general Datuk Mohamad Fauzi Md Isa, MCMC executive chairman Tan Sri Mohamad Salim Fateh Din and Kishore Babu Yerraballa, ITU area representative for southeast asia and other member states in Asia and the Pacific.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Malaysiakini
a day ago
- Malaysiakini
Apples, oranges, lemons to cost 5% more
Good morning. Here's what you should know today. Key Highlights Apples, oranges, lemons to cost 5% more Appeals court hits pause on Yusoff v Anwar No opt-out for MCMC data gathering Apples, oranges, lemons to cost 5% more Apples, lemons, and most oranges - fruits that are almost entirely imported here - are going to cost 5 percent more come July. The reason? The government is expanding the sales and services tax (SST) to cover more "non-essential" goods and services, and imported fruits are on that list. Local fruits, however, will remain tax-free, as will a slew of other food staples. Other food items that will be taxed include salmon, cod, truffle mushrooms, and king crab. HIGHLIGHTS Appeals court hits pause on Yusoff v Anwar The Court of Appeal has granted a temporary stay of proceedings in the sexual assault civil suit brought against Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim by Yusoff Rawther. This is pending a decision on Anwar's bid to get a full stay on the case. The trial was supposed to commence next week before Anwar got the temporary stay on Tuesday. HIGHLIGHTS No opt-out for MCMC data gathering There is no option for mobile users to opt out of an ongoing pilot project involving the collection of anonymised mobile phone data for official statistical purposes. The MCMC cited legal provisions that allow them to collect anonymised data for infrastructure improvement. They added that mobile phone data is not classified as personal data under the Personal Data Protection Act 2010, as it reportedly can't be used to identify or trace individuals, either directly or indirectly. HIGHLIGHTS Views that matter In case you missed it
The Sun
a day ago
- The Sun
MCMC order to share phone data sparks concern
PETALING JAYA: A recent directive by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) for telecommunications companies to share phone data has raised concerns over digital privacy, legal safeguards and potential misuse. While MCMC insists that the data is fully anonymised and used solely for national statistics, experts argue that the move raises serious legal and ethical questions. Technology, media, telecoms and data protection legal adviser Deepak Pillai said the key issues lie in how the data is anonymised and who handles that process. 'If the data is permanently anonymised before it is sent to MCMC, then it would not be considered personal data under the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) 2010. 'MCMC has stated that mobile operators may either anonymise the data themselves or provide raw data for MCMC to anonymise. The specifics of this process are important.' He warned of the risk of re-identifying anonymised data. 'It is unclear whether MCMC has access to information that could be used to re-identify individuals. 'If the data can be used, alone or with other datasets, to identify someone, it falls under the PDPA and must be treated accordingly.' ALSO READ: Govt collecting phone data to boost network coverage He highlighted a major legal loophole, namely that the PDPA does not apply to federal or state government bodies. 'Phone data is generally treated as personal data under the PDPA. But government agencies are not legally bound by the same data protection rules because the PDPA does not apply to them,' he said. Pillai argued that statutory bodies should not be exempt from data protection obligations, especially when handling personal data in a commercial context. He pointed to shortcomings in the Data Sharing Act 2025, which focuses on sharing public sector data but lacks clear standards for collecting, storing or disposing it. He recommended extending legal protections to cover public sector data handling and establishing an independent data protection authority to oversee government and private-sector practices. International Islamic University Malaysia Ahmad Ibrahim Kulliyyah of Laws senior lecturer Assoc Prof Dr Mahyuddin Daud echoed similar concerns. He said Malaysia lacks a clear legal definition of mass surveillance and proper oversight of how anonymised data is collected and used, even when it falls outside current privacy laws. 'While anonymised data may seem harmless, advances in data analytics make it increasingly possible to re-identify individuals. 'Modern analytics and the combination of datasets could heighten this risk. Laws and safeguards need to keep up.' He emphasised that there is a need for transparency in how such programmes are introduced and managed. 'People lose trust when policies are unclear and top-down. We need public engagement, clear explanations and independent checks on how data is anonymised. 'Even if data is used for policymaking, it must respect fundamental rights. Privacy is a constitutional right and should not be sacrificed for development.' He called for such initiatives to undergo parliamentary scrutiny and public consultation. 'Parliamentary oversight ensures that large-scale data collection, especially when it affects rights such as privacy or freedom of movement, is debated transparently. 'It also allows elected representatives to assess whether such measures are truly necessary and balanced. 'Public consultation allows experts to review and strengthen technical aspects, such as how data is anonymised or stored. This helps prevent missteps and builds public trust.' In response to public concern, MCMC clarified on Saturday that no personal data was accessed or shared, adding that phone data is fully anonymised and used solely to generate national statistics for policymaking. Its deputy managing director Datuk Zurkarnain Mohd Yasin on Monday said the data received is not considered personal as it cannot be used to identify or trace individuals.
The Star
a day ago
- The Star
China bans bank from luring depositors with gifts
The guidance came in the wake of a promotion by Ping An Bank Co, which has been offering Labubu collectibles in multiple cities for new depositors who can park in 50,000 yuan for three months. — Bloomberg BEIJING: A Chinese lender's stunt to woo depositors with gifts including the wildly popular Labubu dolls has been barred by financial regulators, underscoring the increasingly fraught battle among banks for customers as interest rates and profit margins fall. The Zhejiang branch of the national financial regulatory administration has asked local banks to refrain from giving non-compliant perks to attract deposits, according to sources. The guidance came in the wake of a promotion by Ping An Bank Co, which has been offering Labubu collectibles – blind box toys – in multiple cities for new depositors who can park in 50,000 yuan for three months. Such a practice, which often involves offering free items like rice or small home appliances, as well as e-gifts such as memberships at Internet platforms, was seen as driving up costs at banks and hurting their margins, said the sources. While Ping An Bank's marketing campaign went viral on Chinese social media platform Xiaohongshu and sparked strong interest from potential savers, it also drew criticism from state media which said it was 'not a long-term solution.' Chinese lenders are walking a tightrope as they balance between deposit taking and protecting margins. — Bloomberg
