Internet Coverage Achievement Needs To Be At Good Level Before VNSY 2026

SEREMBAN, Aug 11 (Bernama) -- The widespread use of Quick Response (QR) Pay at all business premises throughout Negeri Sembilan is among the main factors why internet access needs to be at its best by the time Visit Negeri Sembilan Year (VNSY) 2026 arrives.

State Heritage, Technology, Innovation and Digital Committee chairman Datuk Mohd Faizal Ramli said his team found most foreign tourists who visit Negeri Sembilan chose online payment methods, including at restaurants.

“Negeri Sembilan not only has attractive places such as beaches, hills, mountains and heritage sites,  but we also have popular locations for tourists to eat at and experience the uniqueness of the food, such as rendang maman, daging salai (smoked meat), itik salai (smoked duck) and masak lemak cili api, which are popular in Kuala Pilah, Pedas, Tampin and Rembau.

"We have been told that most of them make payments using the QR code, online and cashless, so internet access is very important for focal areas like this so that their payments are not disrupted and entrepreneurs can conduct their buying and selling activities smoothly," he told reporters today.

He said this after officiating the Negeri Sembilan 2025 Tourism Area Communications Service Coverage Coordination Workshop, with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) here today.

Also present were MCMC Southern Zone senior director Rizal Abdul Malek and Negeri Sembilan MCMC director Md Tahir Musa.

Mohd Faizal said his department would increase internet access in all tourism areas in the state, especially in forest, hilly and mountainous areas such as Rembau, Kuala Pilah and the Sungai Menyala Forest Reserve in Port Dickson, which still do not have full coverage.

"We will always update and upgrade the telecommunications towers so that everyone can have better internet access, including tourist areas in indigenous villages," he said.

Regarding the programme, Mohd Faizal said he hopes this workshop can provide clear goals for coordinating efforts and strategies to improve communication service coverage in tourist areas in the state.

He said this includes identifying areas requiring immediate improvement, planning the implementation of the coverage improvement plan and finding innovative solutions.

This effort aligns with the state government's aspirations to ensure the success of VNSY 2026 and develop the state as a major tourism destination in Malaysia," he also said.

He added that his department hoped to establish close cooperation among all local agencies, especially the Tourism Division, telecommunications companies, and local authorities (PBT) with MCMC to ensure comprehensive internet coverage in tourist areas.

-- BERNAMA