The government will give priority to wider Internet coverage over speed nationwide, said Communications and Multimedia Minister Salleh Said Keruak.

"For the time being, Malaysia is prioritising to have wider coverage nationwide as compared with Asean countries, which are focussed only on Internet speed instead of the coverage area," he said in a written parliamentary reply.

"Thus, the average Internet speed in Malaysia are reportedly slower than its Asean allies (as) the priority and need for broadband were measured differently."

Based on a 2015 report which was published by International Telecommunication Union (ITU) on ICT advanced index, Malaysia has improved from 71st place in 2013 to 64th out of 167 countries the following year.

He was responding to Izani Hussin (Pas-Pengkalan Chepa) who asked about the average Internet speed in the country compared to its Asean counterparts.

Izani also noted that Malaysia imposes expensive charges against netizens.

Salleh had previously stated that Putrajaya may open up the Internet service provider market to allow prices to be determined by market forces .

"It works in Europe, so that may be what we will need to do in Malaysia. That is what globalisation is all about anyway, a borderless world," he told Malaysiakini in an email interview.

Salleh emphasised on the need for affordability, reiterating that it would be useless if better Internet speeds are offered at cost that is beyond consumers' reach.

Several Internet service providers have begun rolling out high speed Internet, with at least 20Mbps, but prices have been in the region of RM170 and upwards.