Digital poverty in Malaysia: Access to devices

The Permanent Hurdle: How Digital Poverty Reshapes Education

For many families, the shift to digital learning was once seen as a temporary adjustment during the pandemic. However, for low-income households in Malaysia, this has evolved into a permanent barrier to education. The transition to home-based learning, known as PdPR, accelerated a reliance on technology that continues long after classrooms have reopened.

Today, essential assignments are hosted on DELIMa, the Education Ministry’s official digital learning platform. Given that these assignments are compulsory and significantly impact final grades, the lack of a dedicated device is no longer just an inconvenience—it is a direct threat to academic success.

The Reality of the “Shared Screen”

Consider the case of Mas Amirah Yaacob, a homemaker in Kuala Lumpur. In her household of eight, four primary school-aged children must share a single smartphone bought for RM399. With only 64GB of storage, the device is frequently bloated with school assignments, forcing the mother to constantly delete old files to make space.

While her husband, Hafizal Abd Halim, owns a phone, his demanding schedule as a cafe employee and food delivery rider means the device is rarely available. With a combined monthly income of less than RM3,000—which is less than the cost of an average laptop in Malaysia—upgrading their tech is an unattainable luxury.

The ‘Domino Effect’ of the Digital Divide

The gap in device access creates a ripple effect that extends far beyond simple homework completion. According to English teacher Soffeatul Raunaqiah Mohamad Rahim, the disparity in confidence and skill is stark.

Students with personal laptops tend to be more fluent in English, more aware of global issues, and more proficient in high-value skills like coding and artificial intelligence. These competencies are critical for innovation and inter-school competitions.

This creates a cycle where students with better access are more likely to represent their schools, gain better merit, and eventually enter superior educational institutions. Those sharing a parent’s phone are often left playing catch-up, facing a psychological toll every time a screen lags or a deadline is missed.

Bridging the Gap: From Charity to Sustainable Ecosystems

While government initiatives provide some laptops and tablets, many low-income urban families still fall through the cracks. This has led to the rise of grassroots initiatives that view digital access as a necessity rather than a luxury.

Refurbishment and Circular Tech

One innovative approach is PinjamGajet (“borrow a gadget”), founded by Petaling Jaya MP Lee Chean Chung. Rather than a one-off donation, this initiative creates a sustainable ecosystem by collecting used laptops, refurbishing them, and renting them out for a minimal fee of RM10 a month (with a refundable RM150 deposit).

This model encourages responsibility and ensures ongoing maintenance while teaching volunteers the technical skills needed to turn “trash” into educational lifelines.

Community-Led Support

Other groups, such as Persatuan Kebajikan Anak Kami, have shifted from providing food aid to distributing laptops. Since 2020, they have provided over 300 new laptops donated by tech firms and individuals, noting a marked improvement in student engagement.

Similarly, in Muar, Johor, Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman has raised funds to provide thousands of tablets and laptops, particularly for students in higher learning institutions.

The Urban-Rural Connectivity Paradox

Malaysia faces a unique challenge where high overall internet penetration does not equal equal access. While roughly 96.8% of households nationwide have internet access, 2024 government data reveals that rural areas still suffer from weaker connectivity and lower computer usage.

Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek noted in April 2024 that rural students often score lower than the national average in digital competency assessments, proving that a signal on a phone is not the same as functional digital literacy.

For more on how digital infrastructure impacts regional development, you can explore reports on digital poverty in Southeast Asia.

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