Broadband penetration in Sabah is now 47%, or is it?

As far as broadband penetration is concern, it seems that we are not too far off from other states in Malaysia.

Penetration rate of 47% is not too bad compared with the 34% figure given by Sabah Minister of Resource Development & Information Technology, Dr. Yee not too long ago. At national level, broadband penetration rate for households in Malaysia is 62.9% (as of Q1, 2012) compared to 62.3% in 2011. Malaysia has about 6.69 million households.

Datuk Mohamed Sharil Tarmizi said:

"The broadband access rate in Sabah is close to 47% currently and not 34% as was reported previously. The new access rate was determined through a recount as the majority of the people enjoying the facility are not transients in Sabah."

For the record, previously in July, and as recent as early this month, broadband penetration rate in Sabah is reported to be just 34%.

That is what we believed until someone from Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) popped up and surprised us all (or should we be surprised at all?) with the above statement. Datuk Mohamed Sharil Tarmizi is the MCMC Chairman.

Let me summarise - from from my understanding - on what he revealed to the press:

1)  We made mistake when calculating Sabah's

     broadband penetration rate,

2)  We recounted and the new figure is 47%
3)  The lower figure earlier published is because of 

     inclusion of illegal population in Sabah, in the 

     calculation formula.

Isn't that startling? The low penetration rate is one thing but even more worrying is the statement issued by MCMC:

The household broadband penetration in Sabah has stretched to 34 per cent, but if the number of illegal immigrants is set aside, the rate can reach 47 per cent. - Daily Express, Dec 7, 2012

TheGreenMechanics' two cents:

To MCMC, I say DON'T GIVE EXCUSES! You stated that 37% of the population of over 2.52 million was illegal immigrants. Illegal or not, they are still party to the statistics. Therefore, they should be counted for the purpose of calculation of rate of penetration.

Don't exclude them just to paint a good look on your performance, and then count them in (include) again when it gives you advantage. That's a terrible way of addressing the poor broadband services here. And the transient population!

But if you can exclude them permanently by solving the illegal immigrant problem in the state, by all means, go ahead!

As far as I am concerned, the penetration rate is still at a poor 34%. Period.