KOTA KINABALU – Internet access has become more of a necessity than luxury, but a restriction by management corporations of apartment complexes here has stirred controversy as residents complain of shoddy connection and service from internet service providers (ISPs).
Apartment dwellers interviewed by The Vibes complain of being deprived of good internet services and being made to sign up with exclusive ISPs with subpar connectivity, while their family members are forced to share mobile phones for work and study even as they are inhibited by data limits.
However, the Sabah Local Government and Housing Ministry has responded that a new by-law will turn internet service into one of three priority utility services, along with water and electricity, and make ISP access free for consumers.
Zurah Basri, who lives in a residential apartment in an isolated area within Kota Kinabalu, said her place used to have an exclusive ISP, but it was sluggish.
“The company boasted that they were offering 4G service, but it was terrible,” she said.
“The speed was always lagging and sometimes there was no internet at all, especially at night when most of the residents were at home.
“The ISP firm wound up shuttering eventually and the internet service ended too. This left us depending on the limited data offered by telcos,” said the mother of four schoolchildren.
She said she became a heavy mobile data user during the movement control order (MCO) when she was forced to work from home.
Her children also relied on her mobile hotspot for online learning. The whole family also had to use her husband’s mobile data when he came home every workday.
“I was lucky the telco service I am using allows me to top up my quota, but that would cost me around RM10 for four days with 8GB of data,” said Zurah, adding that her prepaid spending has gone up from RM50 to RM250 a month due to the absence of an ISP in her area.
‘Data capped by telcos’
Michael Johnny, who lives in another residential apartment here, also had the same experience as Zurah.
He said the management company of his apartment complex now seems to endorse a new ISP with another promise of 4G service.
“I’m not buying it. No other ISPs are allowed in except for this company as the management corporation does not allow it. So, we have to rely on our mobile data.
“It might be unlimited. But, most telco companies cap the data limit to 100GB a month or so,” said Michael.
He added that he cannot afford to run out of data because his children need to attend online lessons while he has to work, and the family also relies on the internet for entertainment while at home.
Near Michael’s residential apartment area, three telco towers can be seen erected, but he laments the internet service is just “horrible”.
The restrictions by management corporations are giving hundreds of thousands apartment owners and tenants a headache, and they often run at odds with corporations that are not solving their problems by, for instance, allowing commercial telco companies with better internet services into their areas.
New by-law to improve situation
The problem began years ago when the internet was still in its infancy in Sabah and only a single company – Telekom Malaysia – was offering the service.
However, a senior officer of the state Local Government and Housing Ministry said things are about to change for the better as the ministry had just drafted a new by-law to allow ISPs to enter closed residential apartments.
The Draft Uniform Building By-Law has just been completed, said the ministry’s deputy permanent secretary Stanley Chong, with the possibility that enforcement will begin in April or May.
“The new by-law will turn internet service into one of three utility services like water and electricity,” he said when approached by The Vibes.
“This will compel developers or management corporations to prepare for internet service infrastructure built into their apartments,” he said.
“This will also allow telco companies to lay their fibre-optic cables within the residential areas and, therefore, better and faster internet service can be enjoyed by apartment owners.”
In the past, he said, internet service was not compulsory and since only Telekom was offering the service then, developers had sought from the ministry the freedom to appoint their own ISPs.
“So, at the time, the ministry accepted the proposal, overlooking the importance of internet services in the future.
“But, in reality some developers or management corporations are making a business out of this,” he said.
Chong said the ministry is not clear on how the management corporations make arrangements with exclusive ISPs, and how subscribers or unit owners are charged for the so-called “in-house” service.
But, clearly, the companies are making a quick profit from rendering a subpar service, he stressed.
“Although some boast 4G service, the reality of what they are giving is much lower (quality), and even today, some are enjoying only 2G speed,” he said.
Chong noted that developers should have provided for the infrastructure for optimum internet service.
The approach should be similar to capital distribution charges imposed by Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd to developers to ensure appropriate electric supply is connected to their projects.
“They should provide the necessary stuff to allow telcos to be able to set up internet services and companies to install fibre optics,” he said. – The Vibes, March 22, 2021
