Pusat Internet or Internet Centre is an initiative under the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to provide Internet facilities to underserved areas as well as to inculcate computer-based skills and know-how that have become an indispensable attribute for everyone in this day and age. Currently, there are currently 870 Internet centres all over the country.
The response from local communities to the facilities and programmes provided at the Internet Centres have been very encouraging, with membership exceeding 590,000 people, 57% of whom are students.
Many other initiatives that focuses on entrepreneurship have also been carried out by MCMC, including to promote local products to a larger market. Through the Internet, local entrepreneurs have been able to run their businesses online, thereby increasing their income and at the same time, growing demand for their products. On average, the entrepreneurs have enjoyed more than 60% increase in income, and to date, 16,393 entrepreneurs have participated in various online entrepreneur development programmes that were held in the centres across the country.
The Internet Centre also acts as an ICT training centre for the youths and senior citizens to empower them with basic computer skills, as well as exposing them to expansive information. Other services such as egovernment apps are also provided to enable rural communities to access government services online.
A new digital learning hub “JomStudi”, which is a joint initiative by Digi, Astro, and Media Prima was recently launched in Pusat Internet Kampung Kering, Labu on 8 March 2019. JomStudi is a digital learning hub that aggregates educational content in a single platform, enabling school students to access and explore digital content. Meanwhile, “eKelas” which is a programme that was initiated by Maxis in 2017, exposes students to digital learning and currently it has 9,000 registered students all over Malaysia. This programme focuses on the three critical subjects namely Science, Mathematics and English for Form 1, 2 and 3.
In an effort to nurture skills such as coding and robotics to cater to the needs of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (IR 4.0), MCMC plans to intensify programmes such as “myMaker”, which is an initiative that is meant to increase public awareness on subjects relating to Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), utilising Internet of Things (IOT).