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mid 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.
ACCESS TO ACCURATE INFORMATION
Elaborating further, Dr Fauziah Hassan, Senior Lecturer for the Communication Programme at Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM), said NADI is currently among the government’s official mediums capable of directly delivering its policies and agendas to the public.
She said NADI also 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.
Senior Lecturer for the Communication Programme, USIM Dr Fauziah Hassan
“This is because NADI’s own objective is to serve 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,” she told Bernama.
She said the dissemination centre can also be regarded as a platform for sharing the latest and most accurate information, which in turn can counter fake news and prevent public confusion.
According to her, information that is misunderstood or misleading 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. By providing them with information through an official government platform in their locality, it helps prevent them from falling for false news from other (unofficial)l sources.
“...and more importantly, the existence of such a centre will indirectly ensure that the public truly understands every government programme or content being communicated,” she said.
ENHANCING DIGITAL LITERACY
Fauziah added that NADI not only bolsters public confidence in government policies but also has the potential to be at the forefront of building an information-literate society—particularly in rural communities—capable of meeting the challenges of today’s digital world.
She said NADI, an initiative by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), is not merely a place to surf the Internet but a community empowerment centre aimed at developing the people’s exposure to the digital world.
Through this information dissemination centre, the public can easily access the Internet and take part in digital skills training and various programmes related to the latest technologies.
NADI reflects the government’s efforts to make technology a driver of progress for all citizens.
NADI is currently among the government’s official mediums capable of directly delivering its policies and agendas to the public.
“This is the space for the public to build confidence and skills in today’s digital era… with more than 1,099 NADI centres nationwide, MCMC is committed to bridging the digital divide and improving community well-being.
“For example, programmes such as digital workshops, cybersecurity, and entrepreneurship have opened up opportunities for participants, including women and youth, to generate income online… so indirectly, all segments of society can benefit from these centres in a safe and user-friendly environment,” she said.
She also emphasised the need for NADI to continuously expand its digital literacy programmes, especially in facing challenges related to artificial intelligence (AI), which can mislead the public.
She said early and continuous exposure is crucial so that people are not easily influenced by false information, particularly on social media.
“The existence of NADI can also be seen as part of the national information resilience ecosystem… with existing platforms such as Sebenarnya.my and MyCheck Malaysia (for verifying fake news), NADI serves as a complement to government efforts to curb the spread of misinformation, especially in rural areas.
“We also see NADI as a one-stop information centre with the potential to become a media advocacy and education hub, guiding communities to identify authentic information and differentiate between factual content and fabricated (technology-generated) materials,” she added.
A COMMUNITY DATA HUB
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), said NADI not only helps the public assess the accuracy of information and identify fake news but also serves as a community data hub aimed at gathering various local issues.
Through the centre, he said, the public can provide feedback to policymakers, including matters concerning local issues and community problems.
NADI as a one-stop information centre with the potential to become a media advocacy and education hub.
“NADI is one of the platforms that gives people space to voice their problems and offer ideas… it should not merely be seen as a recipient of government directives.
“This is because the centre also has a ‘community-friendly face’, where its staff or personnel have close ties with local residents, making them more trusted and approachable by the community,” he said.
However, Muhammad Adnan said a lack of awareness about NADI’s existence and functions remains a major obstacle to its implementation, as many do not realise that the centre can help communities access accurate information on government initiatives.
He added that there is also a trust gap, with some people remaining sceptical of government information, viewing it as propaganda, which prevents them from fully utilising the opportunities provided by NADI.
“Therefore, NADI must serve as a medium to help people understand government policies in a practical and easily understood way… the centre needs to 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, community-friendly, and relatable… in this way, messages are not only easier to understand but also strengthen the sense of inclusivity and togetherness among the people,” he said.
— BERNAMA
