TASEK GELUGOR: The Digital Economy Centre (PEDi) will be given a new name and function in a rebranding exercise expected to be carried out by the second quarter of this year, said Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil.
He said it would be rebranded considering that the centres were also utilised by the community for activities that do not involve the digital economy.
PEDi are frequented by the public to get information about grants, assistance and services provided by the government, he said, adding that some PEDi also serve as post offices.
"So I see that there is a need for us to improve PEDi, maybe some rebranding in line with the new direction we are planning for PEDi.
"It's not just a name change, but also the function because for example, Padu (Central Database Hub) registration, it is not a digital economy, (but) it utilises the existing infrastructure to assist the people," he told reporters after visiting the Taman Gelugor Indah PEDi here today.
Also present were the Communications Ministry secretary-general Datuk Mohamad Fauzi Md Isa, its deputy secretary-general (strategic communications and creative Industries) Nik Kamaruzaman Nik Husin, Information director-general Datuk Mohd Sukari Ab Hamid and Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission ( MCMC) state coordination division head Bukhari Yahya.
Fahmi said PEDi, as a community centre, can play a more important role in the dissemination of information to the masses, in addition to being a learning centre involving artificial intelligence (AI) activities for the local community.
"There is potential to expand (PEDi) and we also take note of the announcement by the prime minister during the PEDi meeting last Nov 29 on the increase in the allowance for managers, and with that, they also need to work more.
"That's one of the reasons why we are having a new alignment for PEDi, a new function, especially to help the community get more accurate information about government policies, the assistance for the people and other services," he said.
He said the rebranding of PEDi is expected to take time as there are some PEDi that are undergoing improvement and construction.
Meanwhile, regarding his visit today, Fahmi said the Internet speed for the PEDi concerned had reached 300 mbps and was of great help, especially for online learning activities and entrepreneurs.
He said 186 new PEDi are being developed, with 80 per cent of PEDi already having a speed of 100mbps and above.
"I understand that there are six PEDi that have started using Starlink (Starlink satellite Internet service) where the speed reaches 300 mbps, this is especially for PEDi in rural areas.
"Another 20 per cent of the 911 PEDi have a speed of less than 100 mbps and we are making efforts to increase the speed of these PEDi," he said.
Fahmi said he also noted that 1,542 people had registered with PADU at PEDi.
According to him, there are 911 PEDi across the country but officers from the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) are not stationed at all the PEDi.-- BERNAMA