Orang Asli community wants faster Internet
PORT DICKSON: Better Internet coverage and access to telecommunications are among the requests of the Orang Asli in the 108-year-old Kampung Bukit Kepong here.
The village’s Tok Batin, Omar Goming, 61, said his village was surrounded by hills, resulting in poor Internet and telecommunications coverage.
“It makes communications with the outside world difficult, especially during emergencies. Let us have a telecommunications tower here to boost Internet access and coverage.”
The 35.49 ha village, which is an ecotourism area offering homestay and handicraft products, has more than 170 residents.
As a tourist attraction, the village should have good Internet coverage to boost the image of tourism in Negri Sembilan.
The village is equipped with a public hall, treatment hall, custom hall and a library.
Most of the villagers are cash crop farmers and rubber, oil palm) smallholders, while some work in Port Dickson.
Negri Sembilan and Melaka Orang Asli Development Department director Haslin Abdul Razak said Kampung Bukit Kepong’s Internet problem should be addressed to promote the village.
“The village, which was crowned runner-up in the 2014 Sejahtera Village Award, was nominated as an ecotourism village but has no telecommunications tower.
“So, we hope this village can get help for the construction of a telecommunications tower.”
Negri Sembilan has 69 Orang Asli settlements. Jempol and Jelebu districts have the largest Orang Asli populations.
Port Dickson has two Orang Asli settlements — Bukit Kepong and Sunggala — with a total of 265 residents.