MCMC mulling 30 minutes of free web access for poorer citizens

The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) is reportedly examining the introduction of a service allowing the country’s poorer citizens in both rural and urban areas 30 minutes web access for free. According to the Star Online, details of the initiative are being worked out by the Ministry of Information, Communication and Culture, with information minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim cited as saying that the initiative is likely to get underway next month. The scheme will reportedly use qualification criteria of the Bantuan Rakyat 1Malaysia programme (BR1M), with the minister noting: ‘This means that those with a household income of less than MYR3,000 (USD946) a month qualify … But we will still study the mechanism, even if there are those who don’t meet the criteria, we will try to open it to them.’ Rais also confirmed that the first half an hour of internet connectivity would be offered on a daily basis, with all of the country’s internet service providers expected to take part in the initiative.