SEPANG: Appointing and training digital champions from within the Orang Asli community is the most effective way to ensure that new internet infrastructure leads to genuine digital inclusion and socio-economic uplift, according to a recent study on broadband usage in their villages.

Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) senior lecturer Dr Hamidah Md Yusop, who led the study on the impact of wireless internet access services for Orang Asli and rural communities, said a community-led approach is crucial to overcoming barriers of trust, language and digital literacy.

She added that while community internet centres such as the National Information Dissemination Centre (Nadi) exist, a more personal and trusted guide is needed.

"We need to have what we call a digital champion, which means a touch point in a village. It can be a person, an individual.

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"We do not yet have a digital champion from the Orang Asli community. We want them to come from the community because only they understand what their people want, what they lack, and how to assess their needs," she said when met after presenting the study at the 2025 Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) Symposium today.

This approach, she added, would also allow for the localisation of content and communication in their native languages, which is essential for effective outreach.

"It is easier for us to deliver the message when we speak their language, and this is why the digital champion must come from their own community," she said.

The study, titled 'An Impact Analysis of MCMC's Broadband Wireless Access Internet Services for Orang Asli and Rural Communities' surveyed 189 respondents across seven villages in Johor, Kelantan, Perak and Pahang, and the impact of broadband wireless internet access provided since September 2022.

While the findings showed that the Orang Asli community is happy with the access, the research also discovered significant hurdles preventing them from fully benefiting from connectivity.

These include unreliable infrastructure, low digital literacy, and financial constraints, she said.

Despite these obstacles, she said the study revealed signs of digital entrepreneurship in Johor, where some young adults have started using the internet to sell forest products.

"If we can identify them, we can suggest to the government that micro-grants be created to support those who can run businesses aimed at improving their family's economy," she said.

She also said that collaborative planning is needed to create clear policies and effective incentives for the community, which could include financial aid or the provision of subsidised devices.

She added that the ultimate success of the national digital inclusion agenda, as outlined in the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) and National Digital Network Plan (Jendela), depends on the implementation of thoughtful and well-executed government initiatives.