GUA MUSANG: About 1,500 Orang Asli in Pos Bihai and Pos Balar here hope the government will upgrade mobile Internet facilities in their area to provide them with better connectivity.
Pos Bihai resident Mulian Alok, 51, said although the village benefitted from the National Digital Network Plan (Jendela) by the government, the access quota was limited and not all the villagers could use it at once.
He said the residents, mostly from the Temiar tribe, also hoped the government could build a telecommunications substation in the area for better connectivity.
"Currently, we can only make and receive calls through WhatsApp. All of us are using the Jendela WiFi because there are too many people using it, access is slow and limited,” he told reporters when met in Kampung Bihai Lama here on Monday (Jan 2).
For Aport Angkai, 31, the limited access makes it difficult for them to get help during emergencies, for example when a resident needed immediate medical care or faced the threat of attack by wild animals.
SMK Bandar Chiku student Agoramos Angen, 17, who is sitting for the SPM examination this year and stays at the school hostel, said the poor Internet coverage made it difficult for him to keep in touch with his family.
"The Internet in the village is very slow," he said.
Galas assemblyman Mohd Syahbuddin Hashim said he took note of the residents' complaints and would raise them with Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC).
"I hope these problems and issues can be acted upon as soon as possible,” he said. – Bernama
