HULU SELANGOR, May 9 — The wait for some 260 residents of Kampung Orang Asli Kerling to obtain telecommunication services has ended, as the area started receiving signal coverage from four major telcos yesterday.
This comes after the Communications Ministry, through the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), conducted a proof-of-concept with Starlink as an alternative to fibre optics for the core connection to the National Digital Infrastructure Plan tower in the village.
Tok Batin (village headman) Muhammad Taufik Abdullah, 55, who was delighted and moved by the government’s solution, said the residents, including the nearly 100 students in the area, can now enjoy high-quality telecommunication services.
He said previously, the village did not receive signal coverage from telcos, forcing them to go to the main road about 6.5km from the village to get internet access.
“Thank you very much to everyone who helped realise our dream of enjoying the internet like those in the cities. The villagers and I will take good care of this facility,” he told reporters here today.
Resident Rudy Muhammad, 43, said the Starlink access and the provision of telecommunication services in the village is helpful in reducing risk to the villagers, especially during emergencies.
“Before this, if there were emergencies and we needed to contact someone, we had to go to the main road. Imagine at night, with the dark and narrow roads, not to mention during rain. It was difficult and inconvenient, especially for women.
“Now with internet access, communication with the outside world is easier. We don’t have to risk our safety just to make a call or send a message, and children who want to study can now use YouTube,” he said.
Ani Gadong, 33, said the internet facility will make it easier for her to communicate with her mother.
“I live in Kuala Kubu Baharu town, and my mother, who is in her 60s, lives here. Sometimes when I visit her, I find out she is out of medication, and some supplies need to be bought.
“Now everything is easier, and my mother can call me anytime to ask for anything,” she said.
Earlier, Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching inspected the two Starlink satellites in the village, located about 18km from Kuala Kubu Baharu.
Teo said Kampung Orang Asli Kerling is the first location in the country to receive a Starlink proof-of-concept as an alternative to fibre optics for better telecommunication access.
Residents can now use services offered by major telcos such as CelcomDigi, Maxis, Redtone and U Mobile.
— Bernama
