KOTA KINABALU: A total of 119 telecommunication towers have been built in Sabah under the National Digital Network Plan (Jendela) phase 1 (2020 - 2022) as of January 31, the Sabah State Legislative Assembly sitting was told on Tuesday (March 22).

       Sabah Assistant Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Seri Ruddy Awah said the total was part of the 607 new towers to be constructed to expand 4G coverage in rural and interior areas via Jendela.

       "In addition, 3,738 existing transmitting stations would be upgraded to 4G to improve the quality coverage for consumers. From the total, 3,128 stations have been upgraded," he said.

       Ruddy added that to expand and improve the quality of fixed line broadband service, available fiber optic capacity have also been implemented around residential and commercial areas.

       He said that 251,165 premises with fiber optic have been planned for the purpose and 118, 241 (fiber optic) premises have been installed.

       "The coverage is expected to increase by the end of the year,” he said when replying to a question by Tan Lee Fatt (DAP-Likas) who wanted to know the status and total expenditure for each project under Jendela, at the Sabah State Assembly sitting here on Tuesday.

       Ruddy said the government has allocated RM7.7 billion for Jendela phase 1, with Sabah receiving RM3.61 billion in the 12th Malaysia Plan via funding through the Universal Service Provision (USP) Fund under the purview of Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC).

       He said areas in the interior of Sabah would also be given priority through broadband service using satellite technology and for this purpose, 138 locations in the interior of Sabah have been set up with satellite technology by April 2022.

       "Besides the initiatives of MCMC, the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry had also installed 24 very small aperture transmission (VSAT) so far and is proposing to install 300 VSAT in 2022. As at Jan 31, 63 locations have installed with satellite broadband by MCMC.

       "The implementation of Jendela will always be improved from time to time based on detailed planning and requests from the public. For areas that are not included under the initiative, it will be taken into account under the Phase 2 plan which will start in 2023 to 2025, ” he said.

       Meanwhile, Sabah Minister of Special Tasks Datuk Dr Mohd Arifin Mohd Arif when answering a question by Ruslan Muharam (GRS-Lumadan) said the Sabah Islamic Religious Council (MUIS) recorded zakat collection of RM313.1 million for a period of three years, RM88.9 each million (2019); RM101.7 million (2020); and RM122.5 million (2021).

       For the period 2019-2021, Mohd Arifin said, MUIS has distributed the zakat to very poor asnaf (zakat recipient) (RM106.7 million); poor asnaf (RM27.7 million) and mualaf asnaf (RM8 million) among others include general assistance; treatment; student scholarships, Hari Raya assistance, monthly assistance, new relatives scheme and asnaf development.

       Ruslan wanted to know the total zakat collection obtained by MUIS for 2019; 2020; 2021 and details of distribution given to asnafs, the poor and the converts. - Bernama