The Malaysian Insight

PORT Dickson will not be given special priority for an internet connectivity upgrade simply because by-election candidate Anwar Ibrahim asked for it, said Communications and Multimedia Minister Gobind Singh Deo.

Gobind said the government had already identified several areas within Port Dickson that required better internet connection to promote tourism and improve education.

“Priority is given to specific areas, including tourism and education,” he said during a walkabout in the army town today.

“The world is now moving towards a (fully) digitised world. By equipping schools, especially in areas specialising in technology, students can start their education in the technology sector,” Gobind said.

Anwar had earlier launched an online tuition programme for students, and was told by several residents that the internet connection in Port Dickson was not up to par.

The PKR president-elect said he already notified Gobind on the complaints, and claimed the minister said he would look into the matter.

Gobind said the ministry’s priority was to bring basic internet amenities to rural areas, including Sabah and Sarawak.

“There is no timeline given for this, as different locations require different solutions.

“The first step is to reduce the price and increase speed. We need to look at how we can provide internet speed on par with other countries,” he said.

The Puchong lawmaker also said he was in Port Dickson to campaign for Anwar in his capacity as a DAP leader, and not a cabinet minister.

Anwar is in a seven-way battle for the Port Dickson parliamentary seat. He is up against five independent candidates – Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan, Isa Samad, Lau Seck Yan, Stevie Chan and Kan Chee Yuen – and air force veteran Mohd Nazari Mokhtar of PAS.

The Port Dickson seat fell vacant after Danyal Balagopal Abdullah, of PKR, quit as MP to make way for Anwar, who is attempting a parliamentary comeback.

This is in line with Pakatan Harapan’s plan to have him take over from Dr Mahathir Mohamad as prime minister.

In the 14th general election, Danyal got 36,225 votes, defeating Barisan Nasional’s Mogan Velayatham and Mahfuz Roslan of PAS, who received 18,515 and 6,594 votes, respectively. – October 6, 2018.