‘Treetop girl’ deeply hurt by remarks

Student posts proof of online exams before shutting off from social media

KOTA KINABALU: “Treetop girl” Veveonah Mosibin appears to be deeply hurt and disturbed by remarks that she had not been sitting for her exams and was merely trying to gain publicity.

Before she disconnected herself from all social networks, she posted proof of her online exams schedule, accompanied by the caption: “Fake news are dangerous, I get lots of negative comments”.

Veveonah also said pressure was not something she could handle and that it had caused a lot of harm.

In expressing her sadness and disappointment over the hurtful remarks, she said what transpired not only affected her but her batchmates too, who have worked equally

hard on their studies.

The 18-year-old said many of them also faced poor Internet connection when taking online exams.

Veveonah said while posting hateful remarks on social media could not be stopped, she reminded Internet users that such comments could cause distress to others.

The post was uploaded on her Instagram account about three days ago.

She has yet to come online since. Her phone has since been switched off and she was not contactable since her last video was uploaded about a week ago.

The student from one of Sabah’s interior villages found herself in the spotlight when videos of her trekking in the jungles and climbing atop trees to study for her exams went viral on YouTube.

The area she is living in has limited road access, poor telecommunications reception and irregular power supply.

On Sept 3, Senator Datuk Donald Peter Mojuntin asked in the Dewan Negara what was being done to ensure proper Internet access in rural areas, citing Veveonah’s case as an example.

In reply, Deputy Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Zahidi Zainul Abidin claimed that Veveonah was a YouTuber who merely wanted to gain fame and publicity.

Zahidi also said she was not sitting for any examinations when she uploaded her video in June.

On Thursday, the deputy minister apologised to Veveonah in a Facebook post, saying that he had made an error due to inaccurate information.

“I wish to apologise to Veveonah Mosibin and will make a correction in the Dewan Negara on Monday (today),” Zahidi said.

Veveonah’s exam was held from June 9 to 12.

Her pre-recorded video was uploaded on June 13.

Too much pressure: Veveonah said her batchmates too have been affected by the negative fallout from online remarks. She has since withdrawn from contact indefinitely.