KULAI, The Madani Submarine Cable Connection (Salam) project, allocated RM2 billion under Budget 2026, is set to significantly enhance internet connectivity and data transmission across Malaysia.
Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching said the implementation of the Salam project represents a crucial step towards strengthening the country’s digital infrastructure, in line with the government’s commitment to building a resilient and inclusive digital ecosystem under the Malaysia Madani framework.
Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching said the initiative marks a major step in strengthening Malaysia’s digital infrastructure, aligning with the government’s goal of building a resilient and inclusive digital ecosystem under the Malaysia Madani framework.
She explained that the new undersea cable network will help overcome the capacity limits of the existing 1Malaysia People’s Cable System (Scream), which has been operating for over a decade.
“Scream has been in use for many years and is now nearing its maximum capacity. Hence, a new submarine cable system is urgently needed to meet today’s data demands,” she said.
Teo noted that the surge in data transmission needs is driven by the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies and increasing dependence on digital platforms.
“The volume of data being transmitted continues to grow sharply in this digital and AI-driven era,” she added, after officiating a fish release programme at Sungai Pontian Besar on Sunday.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim first announced the project during the tabling of Budget 2026 last Friday. The 3,190km cable system will be developed by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC). It will run from Sedili in Johor to Kuching and Sibu in Sarawak, before extending to Tuaran, Kudat, Pulau Banggi, Sandakan and Tawau in Sabah.
Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil previously said the Salam project will replace the ageing Scream network to support Malaysia’s growing digital needs and ensure faster, more reliable internet connectivity nationwide.
