Kuala lumpur: Amid the information explosion and rapid digital advancement, ensuring public access to accurate, accessible, and relevant information has become more crucial than ever, driving the government to establish the Information Dissemination Centre (NADI). The centre is a key government initiative aimed at bringing national development policies and agendas closer to the public, particularly in rural areas. While experts welcome the move, they stress that NADI’s implementation requires further improvement-especially in content and communication channels-to ensure the public receives government-related information more quickly and effectively.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Dr. Fauziah Hassan, Senior Lecturer for the Communication Programme at Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM), stated that NADI is currently among the government’s official mediums capable of directly delivering its policies and agendas to the public. She emphasized that NADI operates proactively to strengthen its role as an important channel for expanding public access to official government information, particularly in areas with limited digital connectivity.
Dr. Fauziah explained that NADI serves as a platform to disseminate government programmes, including Padu (Central Database Hub) and Budi MADANI (MADANI Subsidy Aid), to local communities through the Internet access provided by the centre. The dissemination centre is a platform for sharing the latest and most accurate information, which can counter fake news and prevent public confusion. Misunderstood or misleading information could lead to misconceptions and create negative perceptions of the government. Therefore, NADI’s role is important as not all communities in remote areas have access to mainstream media.
Fauziah added that NADI not only bolsters public confidence in government policies but also has the potential to build an information-literate society, particularly in rural communities. The Information Dissemination Centre aims to develop people’s exposure to the digital world, providing Internet access and digital skills training. With more than 1,099 NADI centres nationwide, MCMC is committed to bridging the digital divide and improving community well-being.
Meanwhile, Dr. Muhammad Adnan Pitchan, Senior Lecturer at the Centre for Media and Communication Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), stated that NADI serves as a community data hub aimed at gathering various local issues. Through the centre, the public can provide feedback to policymakers, including matters concerning local issues and community problems. However, a lack of awareness about NADI’s existence and functions remains a major obstacle to its implementation, as many do not realize the centre’s potential.
Muhammad Adnan emphasized that NADI must serve as a medium to help people understand government policies in a practical and easily understood way. The centre should promote a ‘listening government’ culture, making citizens feel like part of the national development agenda rather than mere recipients of one-way information. NADI should also highlight the linguistic identities and dialects of various communities to make information delivery more inclusive and community-friendly.