PARLIAMENT A total of 1.7 million 1Malaysia netbooks have been distributed to students in the government’s efforts to increase computer literacy in the rural community, said Deputy Communications and Mutimedia Minister Jailani Johari.

NONE The efforts included the creation of 4,000 villages equipped with wireless broadband Internet or WiFi throughout the country. In addition, there were 355 broadband centres across the country including the interior region.

“All of these measures came about following the cooperation the ministry and other ministries including the Education Ministry to reduce the IT gap among urban and rural residents,” he said when replying to Dr Che Rosli Che Mat (PAS-Hulu Langat) at the Dewan Rakyat sitting in Kuala Lumpur today.

All the netbooks came with a year's warranty if damaged.

Steps were also being taken to improve wireless access with the cooperation of the service providing companies, Jailani added.

- Bernama