Go on fact-finding field trip, Zahidi told

PETALING JAYA: Go down to the ground and have a look at the Internet connectivity in Sabah’s interior areas, the brother of university student Veveonah Mosibin urged the Deputy Communications and Multimedia Minister.

Mekvin Mosibin said Datuk Zahidi Zainul Abidin (pic) ought to see for himself the connectivity issues of the state’s villages, rather than relying on claims from other sources.

“The video that my sister did was only to share her real-life story, not to request anything. If you, YB, go down to the ground and visit the villages and interior areas, then you would be able to understand the lives of the villagers.

“Then you would know, instead of sending inaccurate messages back and forth from others, ” he said in a Facebook post on Monday.

Veveonah, 18, gained Internet fame when videos of her trekking into the jungle and climbing trees to get Internet access to study went viral recently.

Zahidi faced intense backlash when he earlier claimed that she was not sitting for any exams when she filmed herself studying on a tree and that she was only a YouTuber who wanted to be famous.

Mekvin, in his post, reminded the minister that he carried a huge responsibility, adding that he must not only think about getting votes.

“Your responsibility is too huge. It is not only about winning in elections. Come, but don’t be selective about the villages you visit. The whole area is under your jurisdiction, you must go and see every nook and cranny.

“Have the experience of surfing the Internet while you’re in interior villages, ” he added.

“My sister was sharing how it was living in the villages and how difficult it was for youth who are needy to be pursuing a meaningful education. My sister and my family never even said they wanted any form of help and aid, ” he added.

Mekvin also directed his guns at Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Abdul Rahim Bakri, the Kudat MP who claimed that he had spoken to a Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) lecturer and Veveonah’s village chief about the “truth” about her videos and her family background.

Abdul Rahim claimed that a UMS lecturer informed him there were no exams held during the time the videos went viral and that the village chief said her parents had been living outside Kampung Sapatalang.

The post by Abdul Rahim has since been deleted.

Mekvin questioned why Abdul Rahim got clarification from a village chief whom he claimed had issues with his family.

“You said we do not have a house in Kampung Sapatalang. Yes, that’s true because it has been torn down as it is decrepit. Another difficulty we faced was having to move nearer to our school at SMK Pitas and Sekolah Pekan Pitas to reduce the petrol costs, ” he added.

Veveonah had also previously explained that her family was living with relatives on land belonging to a church while waiting for their house to be rebuilt.

She had also posted a schedule to show that she was indeed having examinations at the time.

Later yesterday, Karanaan assemblyman Datuk Masidi Manjun, who was appointed as chairman of UMS board of directors last month, confirmed on Twitter that Veveonah did take her university examinations online.

“After meeting the TNC (deputy vice-chancellor) and Pusat Asasi Sains director of UMS today, I would like to confirm that student Veveonah Mosibin sat for her final semester exams (online) from June 9 to 12,2020.

“She is an exemplary student and has been offered to do a marine science degree course in UMS, ” Masidi tweeted at 5.33pm.

The Sabah Bersatu deputy chief added that the dean had been misquoted.