SIBU: A total of three Pusat Sebaran Maklumat Nasional (NADI) have been officially launched by Utility and Telecommunication Minister Datuk Seri Julaihi Narawi here today (Jan 10).
The three NADIs, namely NADI Pelawan, NADI Teku, and NADI Salim, are part of the 23 new NADIs established in Sarawak, which began operations at the end of 2024.
“This number is an addition to the existing 133 NADIs in Sarawak, bringing the total to 156 NADIs now fully operational in the state,” he said when met by reporters after officiating at the opening of NADI Teku here today (Jan 10).
He added that a total of 23 NADIs were approved last year with a total cost of RM6 billion under the Ministry of Communication.
Meanwhile, speaking on the three NADIs here, Julaihi said that NADI Salim opened on October 15, 2024, with a recorded membership of 938 as of today.
“NADI Pelawan began operations on October 16, 2024, and has registered 716 members from the local community.
“Meanwhile, NADI Teku, which also became fully operational on October 16, 2024, has recorded a total of 858 registered members,” he added.
Julaihi also stated that the state government has introduced several initiatives to complement NADI, especially in rural areas, such as Sarawak Digital Hubs and more.
“At NADI Teku, for instance, 60 per cent of users are students, while 40 per cent are from the local community.
“This shows that not only students are benefiting from the facilities provided by NADI, but the local population is also showing interest,” he said.
Among the objectives of NADI are to provide collective internet access to communities, particularly in rural areas and areas with limited service coverage.
NADI also aims to empower communities through more sustainable and relevant programmes to bridge the digital, knowledge, and socio-economic gaps.
It also seeks to provide a platform for rural communities, especially those near NADIs, to receive up-to-date and accurate information on government initiatives such as Main Database System (PADU) and Madani Subsidy Aid Programme (Budi MADANI), ensuring no one is left behind in the nation’s development progress.
Also present were Deputy Minister for Public Health, Housing and Local Government Datuk Michael Tiang Ming Tee, Deputy Minister for Utility and Telecommunication Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi and Sibu resident Abang Mohamad Porkan Abang Budiman.
