Rural areas won’t be left out from 5G coverage: Zahid

TAMPIN – The government will ensure that residents in rural areas are not left out from getting 5G coverage, said Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

This is especially for Federal Land Development Authority (Felda), Federal Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Authority (Felcra), and Rubber Industry Smallholder Development Authority (Risda) areas, said the deputy prime minister.

Zahid, who is also rural and regional development minister, said the responsibility was not only borne by telecommunications companies, but also required the cooperation of all parties.

“As the person who has been given the responsibility to take care of rural and regional areas, I don’t want them to be marginalised from getting telecommunications coverage.

“I don’t want our children to have to climb trees to get coverage. I don’t want settlers to have to go near the (telecommunications) tower just to get coverage,” he said while speaking at the Negri Sembilan Umno liaison body’s Aidilfitri open house here today.

Also present were Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun and Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.

Zahid said rural communities must be given equal treatment in getting 5G coverage even though it had now reached 64% in highly populated areas.

Apart from that, he said the government would ensure housing issues faced by Felda’s second generation would be resolved immediately.

“In Felda Jelai 1, 2, 3 here (for example) I know the menteri besar (Aminuddin) is helping, but the needful must be done now. I believe that the problems of the second generation must be solved immediately because they are our supporters,” he said. – Bernama, May 20, 2023