by BERNAMA/ pic by TMR FILE

TELECOMMUNICATIONS companies have contributed RM6 million to the frontliners and locals whose lives have been adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to a statement issued by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), the contributions were made through the Government-Linked Companies (GLCs) and Government-Linked Investment Companies (GLICs) Disaster Response Network (GDRN) led by Yayasan Hasanah, a foundation under Khazanah Nasional Berhad and Telekom Malaysia (TM).

“The GDRN and the Malaysian Coordination & Action Hub (MATCH) will coordinate support by the telecommunications industry to assist the government and non-governmental organisations in channeling the assistance to those affected by COVID-19,” the statement said.

This marks the second time that telecommunications companies – Celcom Axiata Berhad (Celcom), Digi Telecommunications Sdn Bhd (Digi), Maxis Berhad (Maxis), TM, TIME dotCom Berhad (TIME) and U Mobile Sdn Bhd (U Mobile) – making contributions to GDRN under the “To Malaysia with Love” campaign.

Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah received the contributions from the companies’ chief executive officers in a brief ceremony in Kuala Lumpur.

On top of making contributions through GDRN, most telecommunications companies also offer users 1GB of free Internet per day and it is applicable to mobile data for learning and productivity purposes under the National Economic Recovery Plan (PENJANA) until the end of this year, apart from introducing special packages.

For the special packages, Celcom has been working with the Malaysian Relief Agency (MRA) since April to channel aid such as food supplies to the B40 group living in areas severely affected by COVID-19 in Sabah.

To support connectivity needs, Celcom also provides Internet plans for the use of the Ministry of Health (MOH) as well as XPAX prepaid SIM packs at quarantine centres nationwide.

Digi, on the other hand, introduces the Sabah Youth JENDELA package which includes NEXT Digital Prepaid products that offer unlimited Internet access and calls to all networks.

Meanwhile, Maxis is working with MOH to provide connectivity services for hospitals and authorities and collaborates with the state governments to provide communication support particularly to the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) during the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO).

U Mobile, in the meantime, is partnering with a public funding platform Hanafundme, through the initiative, the company collaborated with Huawei to sponsor 60 mobile devices complete with a GX68 postpaid plan for a period of one year to help Sabah school students so that they will not miss out their learning sessions.

In a related development, TM provides 100Mbps broadband service connection at Medan ATM Hospital in Tawau and 800Mbps at PPR Bubul Ria quarantine centre in Semporna.

Also presented were contributions worth more than RM5.8 million for corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts at hospitals, quarantine centres, purchase of medical supplies and basic necessities.

Meanwhile, funds contributed by TIME dotCom are being used to purchase medical supplies, personal protective equipment (PPE) and ventilators, the statement said.