Budget 2023: Pandemic Recovery Journey

By edotco group CEO, Adlan Tajudin

edotco welcomes the new Budget 2023 and its focus on shared advancement and prosperity for the whole Keluarga Malaysia. We believe that it is an important roadmap that will accelerate Malaysia’s pandemic recovery journey and ensure that the country is well-prepared to tackle future challenges.

On Connectivity

We welcome the RM700 million allocation to accelerate Phase 2 of the JENDELA rollout, as well as the planned RM1.3 billion expenditure by Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB) to expand nationwide 5G coverage.

Connectivity is necessary to ensure participation in future digital economies and to bridge the digital divide, especially for disadvantaged and vulnerable sectors of society.

Having a robust telecommunications infrastructure in place, coupled with the various cross-sector initiatives announced in Budget 2023 to improve digital literacy, will help level the playing field and ensure no one is left behind as Malaysia advances towards the Shared Prosperity Vision 2030.”

With the stated Budget goal of delivering faster, cheaper and better nationwide broadband to all inhabited areas by 2025, all telecommunications stakeholders must work together to ensure that the national connectivity agenda remains on track.

As one of the leading telecommunications infrastructure companies in Malaysia and a proud partner of the JENDELA initiative, edotco stands ready to do our part in supporting the evolution of Malaysia’s telecommunications sector, as well as to amplify digital transformation efforts across businesses, society and the government.

On Sustainability

We applaud the government’s stance that we can no longer assume ‘business as usual’ when it comes to planetary health.

The sustainability mindset has been slow to gain steam in Malaysia, so green incentives such as the RM 1 billion allocated under both Bank Negara Malaysia’s High Tech and Green Facility, as well as the Low Carbon Transition Facility, can encourage companies to take the first steps in joining the environmental crusade.

Achieving meaningful change requires that all parties are committed to enshrining environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles into all aspects of our operations – and lives.”

It was heartening to see that the government has also approved an increased yearly allocation of RM100 million for the Ecological Fiscal Transfer for Biodiversity Conservation, as well as that it will continue to drive reforestation efforts in the forest reserves of Sandakan, Sabah.

Biodiversity and reforestation are both close to our hearts at edotco, especially with our recently announced the Bird Watch Pledge in Malaysia and our reforestation efforts across Southeast Asia, so we resonate deeply with these focuses within Budget 2023 and urge full support from all parties in conserving our natural treasures for future generations.