KOTA KINABALU: Sabah has launched a website to petition the Government to reverse its ban on the use of large parabolic satellite dishes.
The online petition will allow people from all over the country to vote in support of or against or take a neutral stand on the use of large parabolic satellite dishes.
It also allows people to give their comments on the current policy that bans large dishes.
Launching the website at http://freedom2info.com here yesterday, Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Dr Yee Moh Chai urged the public to register and share their views on what was needed to be done on the policy to disallow the use of large parabolic dishes.
“I am doing this as a person who is in charge of information, communication and technology.
“It signifies the importance of freedom to access information, including the use of parabolic dishes,” said Dr Yee, who is also state Resource Development and Information Technology Minister.
Large parabolic satellite dishes, though illegal, are widely used in the interior areas of Sabah and Sarawak.
However, a recent move by the Customs Department in confiscating 183 parabolic dishes worth RM200,000 has sparked local public outcry.
Following the outcry over the seizure of the parabolic dishes, the state government, through Dr Yee, is seeking public opinion through the online petition for a change in the policy.
He said the ruling against the use of large parabolic dishes was frustrating the progress of the country and did not reflect the real progress of ICT in the country.
“The policy must be changed or better abolished,” he added.
Dr Yee said the current policy was only creating a monopoly and did not augur well in terms of competition and freedom of information.
He urged the public to give their say at the website, which would then be forwarded to the relevant authorities.
“I believe that the current rules are ridiculous,” he said.
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