COMMUNICATIONS and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil says he will be holding an engagement session with Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB) and all telecommunications service providers today to discuss 5G coverage.

He said the main topic of discussion would be how DNB would be managed in a more transparent and open manner.

“My focus and that of the ministry now is to hold an engagement session with DNB and all telecommunications service providers,” he said in parliament, yesterday.

When tabling Budget 2023 in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said the government was taking an approach to ensure DNB was managed more transparently and comprehensively to achieve full participation by telecommunication service providers.

Fahmi said one of the objectives that would be set will be for DNB is to ensure 80% 5G coverage in populated areas nationwide by the end of this year.

Meanwhile, he said action should also be taken to strengthen the Personal Data Protection Act and create a Cyber Security Commission, after the national scam response centre (NRSC) received RM10 million budget funding.

“This is among the efforts being planned by the ministry to ensure the effectiveness of the NSRC in combating scams,” he said.

Overall, he said, Budget 2023 had something for everyone.

“Providing aid to padi farmers as well as sharing of 30% of the net profit from Bernas (Padiberas Nasional Bhd) is something that was never thought of previously, but has been successfully done,” he said, referring to Anwar announcing the profit-sharing initiative in the House.

Meanwhile, in a media statement, Fahmi said the RM102 million for the digital content fund would open up more opportunities for artists to produce high quality work able to penetrate international markets. – Bernama, February 25, 2023.