KOTA KINABALU (Mar 13): The Sabah government has announced aid for schools affected by the recent floods, said State Education Exco Datuk Mohd Arifin Mohd Arif.

Mohd Arifin said that following a meeting, they have identified more than 30 affected schools in Beaufort, Membakut, Keningau, Tenom and one near the East Coast to receive RM10,000 each for repair and cleaning works through the State Education Fund (TPNS).

Separately, he said they had also approved more than RM600,000 worth of one-off aid applications for 141 Sabah students, starting from the matriculation level up to PhD, to enable them to continue or further their studies via TPNS.

The State Science, Technology and Innovation (KSTI) Minister said this after witnessing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing between SabahNet and Theta Telecoms at the Sabah International Convention Centre here on Thursday.

The MoU aimed to form a strategic collaboration between the two parties to bridge the digital divide and accelerate telecommunications infrastructure development, in order to drive digital transformation across Sabah.

This collaboration is a crucial component in realising the ambitions set forth by Jalinan Digital Negara (Jendela) Phase 2, the MyDIGITAL blueprint and the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) Development Plan, ensuring inclusive, high-quality digital connectivity for all Sabahans, particularly to underserved communities.

Through this initiative, rural communities will gain enhanced connectivity, unlocking opportunities in e-commerce, telemedicine and remote education-paving.

SabahNet Sdn Bhd chairman Datuk Azman Ruslan highlighted that this collaboration is a vital step in ensuring everyone is connected, providing meaningful and impactful digital access to Sabah’s underserved communities.

Theta Edge Bhd managing director Datuk Nuraslina Zainal Abidin emphasised that the combined expertise will create a strong foundation for next-generation connectivity solutions for all communities.

SabahNet Sdn Bhd is a government-linked company under KSTI, playing a key role in managing and developing government digital infrastructure, providing ICT solutions and promoting digital inclusion across the state.

Theta Telecoms Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Theta Edge Berhad, specialises in telecommunications infrastructure development and network solutions, with a strong track record in nationwide deployments.