9/8/09 Picture shows Minister Joseph Salang (right) launches a Community Broadband Centre at rural village of Pakan together with Telekom Malaysia Group Chief Executive Officer Datuk Zamzamraini Mohd. Isa
By Roger J. Duyong
Sarawak: The rural folks in Pakan and its surrounding area this Monday enjoy an internet connection when the new Community Broadband Centre (CBC) begins operation from this Monday onward.
Equipped with 17 internet enabled computers, it will be open from 8am to 5pm on working days, enabling the rural folk to peek into the outside world.
Malaysia’s Deputy Information, Communication and Culture Minister Datuk Joseph Salang who visited the centre yesterday said it was yet another initiative of the government working together with the Malaysia Communication and Multi-Media Commission (MCMC) in with the collaboration of the Syarikat the Telekom Malaysia to provide internet accessibility to students and the public alike in the rural areas.
He said it would soon conduct basic training for those interested on how to use the computers, too.
He revealed that apart from Pakan, a similar centre was also available in Julau.
Earlier on, when launching the TelekoM Malaysia School Adoption programme at SMK Pakan, Salang urged rural students and members of the public to know how to use the computer to surf the internet for self knowledge and enrichment.
He said by being computer savvy they could keep up with the more privileged urban population.
Salang said that being connected with the outside world would not only open mental horizon of the rural people, but may open a way to earn a living by cutting deals with importers from other countries. The world he pointed out had changed with the advent of technology which works for the people all over the world. Pakan village is situated some 70KM from the nearest town.
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