Sandakan: Two additional National Information Dissemination Centres (NADI) are set to be established in Sabah, as announced by Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil. This development will increase the total number of NADI centres in the state to 132.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the new centres currently under construction are located in Kampung Gelam and Pulau Banggi. These centres aim to provide digital services to the local residents. Fahmi highlighted that out of the 132 NADI centres in Sabah, 118 are fully operational while 12 have recently commenced operations. This announcement was made during a press conference following the launch of the Community Day Programme (HBK) at NADI Sim Sim.
The event was attended by notable figures including Sandakan MP Vivian Wong Shir Yee, Tanjong Papat assemblyman Datuk Frankie Poon, Communications Ministry secretary-general Datuk Mohamad Fauzi Md Isa, Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) Commission Member General (Rtd) Tan Sri Zulkifeli Mohd Zin, and Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) Editor-in-Chief Arul Rajoo Durar Raj.
Nationally, there are 1,099 NADI centres with Sabah having the second highest count after Sarawak, which leads with 156 centres. In Sandakan district alone, eight NADI centres are operational, benefiting nearly 12,000 residents with various programmes and facilities.
Fahmi elaborated on the Smart Services initiatives provided by these centres, which cover five key areas: entrepreneurship, lifelong learning, personal wellbeing, awareness campaigns, and government initiatives. NADI, a Communications Ministry initiative executed through MCMC, is designed to provide internet access and technology exposure to local communities, enhancing their socioeconomic standards.
The HBK programme also featured a Safe Internet Campaign, targeting primary school children under 13, educating them about safe and ethical internet usage. Fahmi emphasized the importance of this campaign, noting that this age group, while active online, is particularly vulnerable to cyber risks.
Since its inception in October 2019, NADI Sim Sim has successfully supported community entrepreneurs in marketing their products online through platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Shopee.