'Smartphone rebate only for the needy'

KUALA LUMPUR: The RM200 rebate for youths given by the government for the purchase of smartphones is to help the needy, Malaysian Youth Council president Mohamed Maliki Mohamed Rapiee said on Friday.

He said youths, who could afford phones that cost more than RM500, should allow others to fill the quota of 1.5 million people offered under the Youth Communication Package.

"Youths must learn to look at the needs of others, not only their own."

Maliki was commenting on the dissatisfaction among youths on the announcement of the government that the rebate was only for buying smartphones, priced up to RM500.

According to them, smartphones in this price range did not have functions they wanted and they had asked for the rebate to be increased.

Two days ago, Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission chairman Datuk Mohamed Sharil Tarmizi said 3G smart- phones, which could be bought under the package, must be priced at RM500 and below.