The Malaysian government has introduced a digital literacy empowerment program for persons with disabilities (PwD) aimed at connecting them with government agencies and ensuring their inclusion in government initiatives, in line with MADANI's policy framework aspirations.

Communication and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil highlighted the program's four objectives: raising awareness and advocating for people with disabilities, educating the community on cybercrime prevention, protecting internet users from online risks, and enhancing the digital literacy of the disabled community.

Government agencies and private entities will share modules covering internet awareness, digital entrepreneurship, and digital empowerment to achieve these objectives.

Why does it matter?

Launching this initiative is a positive step towards ensuring that individuals with disabilities have equal access to digital resources and government services. Indeed, Malaysia has been consistently working towards improving digital inclusion within the country, with the Communication and Digital Minister acknowledging that the concept of a digital economy can vary across contexts. In June, the government revealed plans to create 186 additional digital economy centers, complementing the existing 911 centers nationwide, focusing on enhancing digital literacy, especially in rural areas, where communities often have limited internet access.