Malaysia

Penang govt seeks aid from telcos over Pulau Aman connectivity

Poor internet coverage in the area a bane for students attending online classes

Updated 5 years ago · Published on 24 Jan 2021 12:27PM

Penang govt seeks aid from telcos over  Pulau Aman connectivity
State Infrastructure and Transport committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari (front) together with Bukit Tambun assemblyman Goh Choon Aik and MCMC officials visited Pulau Aman to investigate poor connectivity issues in the area. – SOFIA NASIR/The Vibes pic, January 24, 2021

by Sofia Nasir

GEORGE TOWN – Penang will seek help from telecommunication operators over low internet connectivity coverage in Pulau Aman, especially when students have to access their online classes during the movement control order (MCO) 2.0.

State Infrastructure and Transport committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari said in a statement that the state government had visited Pulau Aman yesterday, including himself, Bukit Tambun assemblyman Goh Choon Aik, and Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) officials.

Zairil added that the purpose of the visit was to identify locations in Pulau Aman that suffer from poor internet coverage and to find the most suitable solution for the residents.

“Among the short-term proposals are the optimisation of existing telecommunication infrastructure in the area as well as device installation, such as signal repeaters. 

“For long-term solutions, MCMC will consider installing new telecommunication infrastructure in the affected areas.

“However, the matter has to be discussed in depth with telecommunication companies.”

The Vibes yesterday reported that Pulau Aman was visited by several MCMC officers and state leaders after the news of its poor internet access was published.

Village community management council chairman Saibi Abd Majid said he was grateful to the media for helping to solve a long-standing problem, especially when the classes were conducted online.

It was reported that about 30 students in Pulau Aman faced difficulties continuing their education online during MCO due to a lack of Internet access, despite Penang’s developed state status.

One of the students, Nur Alea Sofiyyah Ahmad Hanif, 16, said she had to go to Hujung Tanjung, which is at the end of the cape, to get stable Internet connection whenever she has an important school assignment. – The Vibes, January 24, 2021

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