THE people need to take advantage of government facilities and get involved in the digital economy to alleviate poverty, Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil said.

He said facilities such as the Digital Economy Centre (Pedi) mean the people have no excuse not to work towards ending poverty.

“I hope these facilities will be fully utilised and people will come to Pedi to learn how to participate in the digital economy, and how this facility can improve our economy.

“From there, we can see that the government does not only give them fish. We also provide assistance in the form of food baskets under the Rahmah initiative, subsidies and so on, and to eradicate poverty, we must give people fishing rods,” he said.

According to Fahmi, the government will ensure that each state constituency has at least one Pedi facility by next year.

Meanwhile, he encouraged the use of cashless payment methods like e-wallets and QR codes in Ramadan bazaars around the federal capital.

Fahmi targets 90% use of the payment method by next year, adding he will discuss this with the industry and new Kuala Lumpur mayor Kamarulzaman Mat Salleh to help more traders and hawkers to go cashless. – Bernama, April 16, 2023.