Villagers forced to walk 3km for a phone line

SOME 1,000 villagers in Pasir Mas, Kelantan, have been living with no telephone or Internet lines for more than 10 years, Kosmo! reported.

Residents of Kampung Tok Rusa described life there as akin to living in a cave and that the problem has never been resolved by the authorities.

Villager Sakry Fauzi, 42, said that no telecommunication tower has been built near the village, making it difficult for residents to make phone calls.

He said residents find it difficult to accept the situation when their village seems to be marginalised and doesn’t receive basic facilities.

“We need to go to the next village, Kampung Meranti, about 3km from here, to get a stable line,” he said.

According to Sakry, residents here are also worried because it is difficult to contact family members in the event of an emergency.

Another resident, Fauzi Dollah, 59, said that residents are willing to prepare a site to build a telecommunication tower as long as there is a telephone line.

He said there is idle land suitable for the construction of a telecommunication tower.

“The government and telecommunication companies can contact us to solve this problem.

“Residents here have been waiting for a telephone network for a long time.

“Our children fell behind in their studies when they could not attend classes online during the movement control order period more than two years ago,” he added.