Some 472,900 units of the 1Malaysia notebook computer have been distributed to school students nationwide during the first and second phase of the programme, Deputy Information, Communications and Culture Minister Joseph Salang said.

He told the Dewan Negara that one million laptops had been allocated under the programme.

"This initiative is expected to contribute 15 percent to the national broadband penetration rate," he said in reply to a question from Senator Pau Chiong Ung during question time.

Replying to Pau's supplementary question on the quality of these laptops, he said, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) had set the criteria for the suppliers to adhere to.

"Although the laptops under the programme are from various less-known brands, they have gone through tests by the MCMC.

"Companies who have successfully bid to supply these laptops are also required to set up a service centre in each location to maintain these computers," he said.

- Bernama