University students access lecture materials online, employees attend virtual meetings from home, and consumers purchase goods from sellers located hundreds of kilometres away without ever leaving their homes.

Digital technology, without doubt, has transformed the way we live, work, learn, and interact. It has created new opportunities, increased efficiency, and connected communities in ways that were unimaginable just a few decades ago.

As Malaysia continues its journey towards becoming a digitally empowered nation, these developments are often celebrated as indicators of progress and modernisation.

Yet, amid this transformation, a quieter reality exists beneath the surface.

GAPS IN REALITY

While some Malaysians are thriving in the digital era, others continue to face challenges in accessing and benefiting from the very technologies that many take for granted.

This disparity, commonly referred to as the digital divide, is not merely a technological issue. Rather, it is a social issue that influences education, employment, economic mobility, and access to essential services.

The digital divide is often mistaken for a matter of internet availability alone. However, the reality is far more layered. It involves devices, affordability, skills, confidence, and the ability to participate meaningfully in a rapidly digitising society.

BEYOND CONNECTIVITY

The issue becomes more visible when examined through everyday experiences. For many individuals, digital access remains shaped by practical limitations that extend beyond mere internet availability.

Connectivity may exist, but its quality, reliability, and usability often vary considerably across locations and households.

Similarly, access to digital devices is not always guaranteed.

While many services and opportunities have become increasingly digitalised,

BY ANIS NAJIHA AHMAD

AND

MUHAMMAD HAFIZ MOHAMAD NOR

International Institute for Halal Research and Training( INHART) International Islamic University Malaysia

individuals from lower-income households often continue to face constraints in obtaining adequate devices for learning, work, and daily activities( Devisakti et al., 2023).

These examples remind us that connectivity alone does not define digital inclusion.

THE LAGGING SIGNAL

Education has perhaps revealed the digital divide most clearly. When learning moved online, students without stable internet or proper devices were immediately disadvantaged.

Some attended classes from parked cars near public Wi-Fi zones, while others climbed hills or waited late into the night for stronger signals.

For example, a university student returning to a rural hometown may find that unstable internet connections turn a simple online lecture into a frustrating experience of frozen screens, interrupted audio, and repeated logins.

What should be seamless learning becomes a negotiation with weak signals and limited bandwidth.

Although learning has since returned to physical classrooms after the COVID-19 pandemic, digital platforms remain deeply integrated into education systems.

Assignments, submissions, and academic communication are increasingly conducted online, meaning that digital inequality continues to quietly but significantly shape educational outcomes.

ONE DEVICE, MANY HANDS

Inside many Malaysian homes, particularly in lower-income households, digital resources are often shared.

A single laptop may serve multiple schoolgoing children. Parents working from home may compete with children attending online classes for device access( Azahar, 2022).

For instance, during the COVID-19 pandemic, a Malaysian student from a B40 household reported having to take turns with his brother to attend online classes because only one device was available at home.

As their schedules frequently overlapped, this arrangement persisted for more than a year to ensure that both siblings could continue their studies( Ali et al., 2024).

This shared usage creates invisible pressure within households. It also reveals

how digital transformation interacts with socioeconomic realities.

While technology promises convenience and efficiency, its uneven distribution can unintentionally create strain at the most fundamental unit of society— the family.

SENIOR CITIZENS

For senior citizens, the digital transition often feels less like convenience and more like adaptation under pressure. Many still prefer face-to-face interactions for financial transactions or public services.

The shift towards mobile banking, QR payments, and online government portals can feel overwhelming.

For example, 76-year-old Malaysian retiree Frances found herself overwhelmed while trying to navigate the mandatory MyDigital ID registration.

For her and many peers, the shift to complex, multi-app digital validation creates immense anxiety over making an unfixable mistake, turning what should be a convenience into a stressful barrier( Fam, 2026).

At the same time, concerns about online scams and phishing attempts have made many elderly individuals more cautious.

News of financial losses due to fraudulent messages or calls has led some to avoid digital platforms altogether, preferring physical counters even when digital options are more efficient( Chin, 2026).

This hesitation is not resistance to change. Rather, it reflects a need for trust, guidance, and digital confidence.

SMALL BUSINESSES, BIG GAP

The digital divide is equally visible in the business landscape. Today, entrepreneurship increasingly depends on digital presence.

Social media marketing, e-commerce platforms, and online payment systems are no longer optional. They are essential.

Yet, not all entrepreneurs are equally prepared for this shift. A small-scale kuih maker or batik artisan may have exceptional products but lack the digital skills to reach wider audiences.

Meanwhile, others who understand platform algorithms, content creation, and online branding can expand rapidly beyond local markets. In this sense, digital literacy has become a new form of economic capital.