SpaceX donates 50 Starlink kits to Malaysia for disaster preparedness

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said Wednesday that SpaceX has donated 50 Starlink satellite internet kits to Malaysia to bolster disaster preparedness.

The US aerospace company’s donation was announced during a meeting between Anwar and a SpaceX delegation in Malaysia’s administrative capital, Putrajaya.

In a post on US social media company X, Anwar said discussions focused on strengthening cooperation through Starlink, SpaceX’s satellite internet service, to expand connectivity, particularly for people living in remote areas.

He said Starlink was supporting the government’s efforts under the JENDELA digital infrastructure initiative to expand coverage and improve internet quality, including in remote areas of Sabah and Sarawak and Orang Asli settlements in Peninsular Malaysia.

Anwar also welcomed the operation of Starlink’s Point of Presence (PoP) infrastructure in Cyberjaya, which he said would facilitate local data traffic and improve service quality for users.

“Technological progress must bring tangible benefits to the people,” said Anwar.

He added that cybersecurity, data protection and safe internet use should remain priorities alongside the expansion of connectivity.

The government wants to ensure that remote communities have access to quality and secure internet services so they are not left behind in development, he added.

Malaysia has increasingly turned to satellite connectivity to extend internet services to areas where conventional telecommunications infrastructure remains limited.