MEASAT, a national satellite service provider company and also Parcel365, a package delivery and reception service have recently signed a collaboration to introduce a new initiative called KampungDigital365 which leverages their internet supply and logistics capabilities to empower the indigenous economy.
Through this initiative, Measat and Parcel365 have launched the Shopla365 website through KampungDigital365.com which allows the public to buy handmade products from indigenous villages such as Orang Asli Pos Sinderut Village.
Items sold include shrimp crackers, petai, banana leaves, cassava, village durian and even live village chickens that are tied. Kampung Orang Asli Pos Sinderut is the first orang asli village to agree to this collaboration, and it is seen to help in enabling them to earn a higher profit when selling their goods, than when they sell it through middlemen.
The collaboration between MEASAT and Parcel365 can be likened to a nail-biter, where MEASAT, the company behind satellite internet connection providers CONNECTme NOW and Parcel365, typically use their services to empower the lives and economy of indigenous villages.
Through the KampungDigital365 program, these villages are provided with additional equipment such as electrical power supply, solar chargers, refrigerators and so on to enable them to store perishable items for sale.
MEASAT and Parcel365 are expected to extend the introduction of this program to more Orang Asli Villages in the interior throughout this year.