MCMC’s Revises RM200 Rebate Under “Youth Communication Package” to Cover All Smartphones

Posted by By moses 4 Min Read January 2, 2013
Youth Communicate Package is now available
Youth Communication Package is now available

Recently, the government through the Malaysia Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), has offered some goodies to youths who are buying smartphones by giving a RM200 rebate under the 1Pakej Komunikasi Belia or Youth Communication Package. The move was met with mixed reactions.

The MCMCthen revised its initial limited smartphone list to allow the rebate to apply to any smartphone from participating telco companies such as Celcom, Clixster, DiGi, Maxis, Tune Talk, U Mobile and YTL Communications.

Previously, the rebate was limited to RM500 smartphones from the participating telco companies. However, MCMC also said all parties involved in the scheme were subjected to fair price terms.

The phone models approved by MCMC before the changes were made to all smartphones are as below:

  1. Alcatel 993D
  2. Alcatel OneTouch Glory 2
  3. Alcatel OneTouch Inspire 2
  4. Blackberry Torch 9800
  5. The Buzz Phone
  6. HTC Wildfire
  7. HTC Wildfire S
  8. Huawei Ideos X3
  9. LG Optimus L3
  10. LG L3 E400
  11. LG L3 E405
  12. Motorola XT311
  13. Ninetology Black Pearl II
  14. Ninetology Palette
  15. Nokia Asha 311
  16. Nokia Lumia 610
  17. Samsung Galaxy Chat
  18. Samsung Galaxy Mini
  19. Samsung Galaxy Pocket
  20. Samsung Galaxy Y
  21. Samsung Galaxy Y Duos
  22. Sony Xperia Tipo Dual
  23. Sony Xperia Tipo Single
  24. ZTE Acqua 
  25. ZTE V790.
*Please note that this list is provided by Malaysia Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) before changes were made.
So, if you want to know more on this or want to get your hands on any one of these models with the rebate, you must apply online at the official website provided by MCMC – Youth Communication Package Website
You must however, first meet these requirements before you are eligible to apply:
  • Malaysian youth aged between 21 and 30 years including students.
  • Monthly income of RM3,000 and below.
  • Only one smartphone for each qualified individual.
  • Students who are studying full or part time which within the first 3 requirements
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Editor’s Take: While I laud the Government’s efforts to put more smartphones into youth’s hands, one can’t help but wonder if much thought and research was first put in before the scheme was deployed. Firstly, I question the necessity of such a scheme. Is there a real affordability issue for smartphones in the first place? Why is there a need for smartphone ownership? Secondly, a smartphone is only a smartphone with a proper data plan. Considering a data plan incurs even more cost than a regular feature phone, who pays for that?
While you ponder on those points, telcos and participating retailers will see some spike in sales and the reseller market, including online channels and forums will see some activity in some ‘cheaper’ new phones being traded for profit. The scheme, similarly with the netbook and laptop scheme of yesteryears, opens channels for abuse.

OK, who has a cheap smartphone to sell?

Source: NST, Malaysiakini

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A miniature player who is obsessed with technology and trends around the world. One who would never turn down a fight as long it comes to his Orcs. He is always with his phones and gadgets, dabbling into new tech news and new trends to debate upon. His motto – "Knowledge is Power, Power is Glory", and as for the rest... debatable.