CYBERJAYA, Sept 7 — The government is strengthening collaboration between National Information Dissemination Centres (NADI) and Rural Community Centres (PKD) to optimize resources and bridge the digital divide across rural and urban communities.

Speaking at the PKD-NADI Strategic Collaboration Workshop today, Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil stated that NADI has evolved beyond basic internet provision into community empowerment hubs connecting citizens with skills, cashless e-wallet initiatives, and artificial intelligence (AI) training.

“This is the whole-of-government approach we need to put into practice. It is not about who owns a facility, but how existing government facilities and resources can be fully utilised for the benefit of the people,” Fahmi said.

Fahmi added that the initiative aims for each NADI centre nationwide to produce at least one prompt engineer, equipping youth with cloud technology and AI skills to develop local economic applications. Also present at the event were Deputy Prime Minister and Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi alongside Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) chairman Tan Sri Mohamad Salim Fateh Din.

In a separate development, Fahmi revealed he has instructed MCMC to take firm action against the misuse of e-commerce platforms and online marketplaces facilitating illicit drug sales, including fentanyl (locally known as ‘piu-piu’), following concerns raised directly by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

“I have instructed MCMC, and they will be meeting one of the platforms that we believe has been involved in the misuse of networks enabling drugs such as fentanyl, or what is known as ‘piu-piu’, to be sold in Malaysia,” Fahmi stated, adding that secure communications networks are essential to prevent digital fraud, scams, and illegal commerce.

–NMT

Tags: Fahmi Fadzil NADI PKD