NADI-PKD Synergy To Optimise Govt Resources, Boost Public Service Delivery - Fahmi

CYBERJAYA, Sept 7 (Bernama) -- Efforts to strengthen collaboration between the National Information Dissemination Centres (NADI) and Rural Community Centres (PKD) under the Rural and Regional Development Ministry (KKDW) reflect the government’s focus on synergy, resource optimisation and better public service delivery.

Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil said NADI had evolved beyond providing computers and Internet access to become community information and empowerment hubs connecting people with skills, opportunities and government services.

“There are 191 PKDs under KKDW, equipped with facilities, resources and community networks. Given the strengths of both PKD and NADI, I believe there is significant scope for them to complement each other and strengthen service delivery to the people.

“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,” he said at the PKD-NADI Strategic Collaboration Workshop here today.

Also present were Deputy Prime Minister and Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) chairman Tan Sri Mohamad Salim Fateh Din.

Fahmi said the approach was in line with the government’s efforts to promote a cashless society, including the use of e-wallets, while digital empowerment should now be expanded to include artificial intelligence (AI) skills.

“Our hope is for each NADI to produce at least one prompt engineer. If we prepare young people for the future by teaching them to harness cloud technology and AI, they can develop applications that benefit their communities and local economies,” he said.

In a separate development, Fahmi said he had instructed MCMC to take firm action against the misuse of e-commerce platforms or online marketplaces to sell drugs, including fentanyl.

He said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had also contacted him about the issue, which was becoming increasingly concerning.

“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,” he said.

Fahmi said government efforts to provide reliable Internet access and improve PKD and NADI facilities were aimed at narrowing the digital divide between rural, suburban and urban communities.

“But if these communications networks are not secure and users lack the knowledge or skills to protect themselves, it will not only enable drugs to be sold more widely, but also give rise to other problems, including scams,” he said.

-- BERNAMA