Sabah first State to launch Nadi Ambassador Programme
Published on: Fri, Jul 25, 2025
By: Bernama Text Size: Kota Kinabalu: Sabah has become the first state selected to implement the Nadi Ambassador programme, aimed at promoting the benefits of the National Information Dissemination Centre (Nadi) Smart Services and advancing digital literacy, particularly among rural communities. Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said 50 volunteers, comprising students from Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), were selected to participate in the programme, which is being introduced for the first time by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), in collaboration with UMS and the Yayasan Sukarelawan Siswa. He said that the Nadi ambassadors will also assist MCMC in raising public awareness on cyber safety through the Safe Internet Campaign, by engaging with residents' associations and school students in their respective areas, to promote responsible and ethical internet use. 'Sabah was chosen, among other reasons, because during the Covid-19 pandemic, it was one of the states which faced significant internet infrastructure challenges. We have been working hard to address these issues, whether through the installation of towers, substations, or expanding campus WiFi coverage,' said Fahmi. 'Therefore, it is fitting for us to continue our efforts by strengthening digital literacy through the Nadi Ambassador programme,' he told reporters, after officiating the Sabah Nadi Ambassador programme at UMS, yesterday. Also present at the event were secretary-general of the Ministry of Communications, Datuk Mohamad Fauzi Md Isa; UMS vice-chancellor, Prof Datuk Dr Kasim Mansor; and MCMC managing director, Abdul Karim Fakir Ali. Fahmi said that there are currently 131 Nadi centres across Sabah, and the selected ambassadors will undergo a two-day training session to support digital literacy efforts, and help extend the benefits of these centres to the wider community. He added that the student volunteers from UMS were drawn from various academic disciplines, with the selection process jointly carried out by MCMC and the university. Fahmi also expressed hope that the participation of UMS students in the programme would serve as a platform for them to provide input and suggestions for improving telecommunications services in Sabah. He said that the Nadi Ambassador initiative will eventually be expanded to universities nationwide, in collaboration with student representative councils. Meanwhile, the MCMC, in a statement, announced that selected volunteers who successfully passed the screening process will undergo a two-day Training of Trainers (TOT) workshop, beginning tomorrow, at UMS. During the workshop, participants will be introduced to the fundamentals of volunteerism, the objectives and functions of the Nadi, Nadi Smart Services modules, and the key components of the Safe Internet Campaign. Upon completion, they will be appointed as Nadi Ambassadors, tasked with delivering briefings to local communities, including primary and secondary school students, parents, teachers, and entrepreneurs, who participate in various programmes at Nadi centres. 'This approach is designed to encourage widespread community involvement across all age groups and backgrounds, fostering a better understanding of Nadi's role, and helping the public make full use of the services available. MCMC added that 25 Nadi centres have been identified and matched with the hometowns of the 50 selected UMS student volunteers, to ensure that the programme remains community-oriented and responsive to local needs. Meanwhile, MCMC has introduced the Nexus MCMC mobile application to help improve internet accessibility, particularly in areas with poor coverage. Fahmi said the app, available for both Android and Apple devices, allows users to conduct internet speed tests from anywhere. 'For Android users, the app includes an additional route survey feature that performs periodic tests as users move from one location to another,' he said. 'These tests connect to nearby telecommunication towers to help identify coverage issues in specific areas.' The data collected through Nexus will be a key reference point in developing solutions to enhance internet access, he said. Fahmi said the app relies on crowdsourced data, and the public is encouraged to download and use it to assist MCMC in identifying infrastructure needs in specific locations. 'We've also implemented a new network-sharing policy that allows telco companies to cooperate in certain areas,' he added. 'For example, if a location is only covered by providers A, B, and C, but not D, the new policy enables them to share network coverage more easily. 'Our principle is simple — where there's a road, there must be internet.' * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available.
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Sabah first State to launch Nadi Ambassador Programme
Published on: Friday, July 25, 2025 Published on: Fri, Jul 25, 2025 By: Bernama Text Size: Kota Kinabalu: Sabah has become the first state selected to implement the Nadi Ambassador programme, aimed at promoting the benefits of the National Information Dissemination Centre (Nadi) Smart Services and advancing digital literacy, particularly among rural communities. Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said 50 volunteers, comprising students from Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), were selected to participate in the programme, which is being introduced for the first time by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), in collaboration with UMS and the Yayasan Sukarelawan Siswa. He said that the Nadi ambassadors will also assist MCMC in raising public awareness on cyber safety through the Safe Internet Campaign, by engaging with residents' associations and school students in their respective areas, to promote responsible and ethical internet use. 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Upon completion, they will be appointed as Nadi Ambassadors, tasked with delivering briefings to local communities, including primary and secondary school students, parents, teachers, and entrepreneurs, who participate in various programmes at Nadi centres. 'This approach is designed to encourage widespread community involvement across all age groups and backgrounds, fostering a better understanding of Nadi's role, and helping the public make full use of the services available. MCMC added that 25 Nadi centres have been identified and matched with the hometowns of the 50 selected UMS student volunteers, to ensure that the programme remains community-oriented and responsive to local needs. Meanwhile, MCMC has introduced the Nexus MCMC mobile application to help improve internet accessibility, particularly in areas with poor coverage. Fahmi said the app, available for both Android and Apple devices, allows users to conduct internet speed tests from anywhere. 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