Three more 1Malaysia internet centres to be built in Sungai Besar

The Federal Government will open three new 1Malaysia Internet Centres (PI1M) in the Sungai Besar parliamentary constituency to allow the local community access to broadband services.

Communications and Multimedia Deputy Minister Datuk Jailani Johari said the three new PI1M, build at a cost of about RM5.4 million, would be in Kampung Desa Permai Parit 8, Tebuk Haji Yusof and Kampung Sungai Haji Dorani.

Currently, there are four PI1M operating in the relevant parliamentary constituency, namely PI1M Pasir Panjang, PI1M Kampung Sungai Leman, PI1M Kampung Tengah Peket 100 and PI1M Sungai Panjang.

"We hope with the three new PI1M, the community in Sungai Besar together with the Federal Government can create an IT (Information Communication) literate society.

"If the community continues to support Barisan Nasional (BN) more development will be carried out here," he told reporters after launching the Pasir Panjang PI1M as well as the 2016 World Telecommunication and Information Society Day celebration, here Wednesday.

Jailani said the Kampung Desa Permai Parit 8 and Kampung Sungai Haji Dorani PI1Ms are expected to open by the end of the year while the Tebuk Haji Yusof PI1M is scheduled for early 2017.

On average locals using P11M admit it facilitates their daily work where they do not have to go to a cyber cafe, which is quite a distance, to access the Internet, he said.

"At the PI1M, by paying a fee of only RM5 for a lifetime membership, the elderly and the disabled (OKU) can access the internet for free, while students and children can use the internet free of charge for an hour," he said.

Earlier in his speech, Jailani said the existence of the Pasir Panjang PI1M has helped generate socio-economic improvement of the local community and create more enterprising entrepreneurs.

"Therefore, I hope, you as voters, can choose a candidate who can truly defend your fate in the Sungai Besar by-election on June 18 and I also hope voters will not be enticed by the opposition's provocation and empty promises," he said.

In the by-election BN candidate Budiman Mohd Zohdi, 44, will be facing PAS candidate Dr Abdul Rani Osman and Parti Amanah Negara candidate Azhar Abdul Shukur who is representing Pakatan Harapan, in a three-cornered fight.

The by-election is being held following the death of incumbent Tan Sri Noriah Kasnon in a helicopter crash in Sebuyau, Sarawak on May 5.