KOTA KINABALU: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Noor has instructed the State Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry (MOSTI) to closely monitor the installation of telecommunication towers as part of the first phase of the National Digital Network (JENDELA) project in Sabah.
“Phase two of JENDELA is set to be implemented next year, but the contractor’s performance thus far has been disappointing,” he stated following his working visit to the Ministry at Wisma Bandaraya today.
During the briefing from the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), it was revealed that only 217 out of 382 towers, or 57 percent, have been completed under JENDELA phase one in Sabah. Of these completed towers, only 63 percent are fully operational.
Hajiji emphasized the need for both the State MOSTI and MCMC to ensure that the remaining work is completed according to schedule. He warned that the State Government would not hesitate to take action if there is no improvement in the project’s performance.
Additionally, Hajiji was briefed by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Datuk Hanafiah Mohd Kassim, on initiatives aimed at reducing unemployment through training aligned with job placement, as well as efforts to attract more students to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
“I want the ministry to focus on STEM in line with the demands of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (IR 4.0). We cannot afford to be left behind, and it is crucial for the ministry to fulfill its role as the state’s leading advocate for science and technology,” he remarked.
Present at the briefing were Deputy Chief Minister II and Minister of Local Government and Housing Datuk Seri Panglima Dr. Joachim Gunsalam, Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Datuk Ariffin Arif, Finance Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi Manjun, Rural Development Minister Datuk Jahid Jahim, State Secretary Datuk Seri Panglima Sr. Safar Untong, and various assistant ministers.-pr/BNN
