PETALING JAYA: Youngsters believe that providing smart phone rebates for young Malaysians is a good cause as it can help them keep abreast with technology, but they also feel that the money could be put to better use.
This is the general opinion of young Malaysians interviewed today regarding the RM200 rebate proposed by the government to enable them to purchase smart phones.
Under the initiative, young Malaysians, aged between 21 to 30 who earn less than RM3,000 a month, can use the rebate to buy the phones, available via selected dealers.
LAILY: It's a good move as it encourages connectivity among youngstersFollowing the announcement, Malaysian Digest interviewed those within the age bracket to gather their opinion on the matter.
Laily Azwa, a 22-year-old accountant from Kuala Lumpur, thought the rebate offer was a smart move by the government.
Laily, who is also an avid smartphone user, pointed out that the device serves her well in keeping her up-to-date on current news and events.
"This is also a good move as it would encourage connectivity amongst youngsters and make them more tech-savvy," she said.
Nadim Gulam Rasul, a 26 year old practicing lawyer, said he understood the government’s intention to help youngsters be on par with technological development. However, he believed that the money could have been channelled to a more productive cause.
NADIM: The money could have been channeled to a more productive cause."Those between 21 to 30 years old will buy smartphones anyway, with or without the rebate. The allocated budget for the rebate could be used for other things such as laptops, internet bills or discounts on cars.
"Youngsters today tend to change hand phones every so often. Discounts on cars would make more sense," Nadim said.
His opinion was shared by Kalai Vanan, a customer service officer from Kepong. The 25-year-old believed that it’s unnecessary.
“It won’t make that much of a difference, really. Most people nowadays already own smart phones,” he said.
GARY: This is just a move to garner the votes of young people.His views were shared by 27-year-old banker Gary Hew. Hew opined that it’s a move by the government to ‘curry favour’ with the youths.
"A smart phone isn’t a necessity. This is just a move to garner the votes of young people," said the Shah Alam resident.
Nur Idayu, 21, said the prices of smart phones are more competitive now, hence there is no need to offer such rebates.
"Smartphone prices are dropping. It’s not worth offering rebates for as the phones aren’t that hard to own nowadays."
IDAYU: It's not worth offering rebates as smart phone prices are dropping.Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, in announcing the move during the tabling of Budget 2013, said the initiative stems from the effort to help youth access the information superhighway.
Youths currently form 22 per cent of smart phone users in the country.
The initiative is a collaboration between the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and telco companies.
- mD
Read more
