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Kampung Sapit, Ulu Padawan cries out for connectivity

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A scenic view of Kampung Sapit.

KUCHING : Celebrating this year’s Gawai without everyone under one roof has indeed been a heartache.

Thanks to technology, many families today, especially those residing in the city, can utilise video calls to meet their children, loved ones and friends, far and near celebrating Gawai amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

But one may wonder if everyone is really able to utilise and adapt to this new normal – celebrating a festive occasion through video conferencing.

Living in a rural place like Kampung Sapit here in Ulu Padawan, this year’s Gawai was really a muted one.

With the unresolved issue of the lack of Internet access in rural areas, Kampung Sapit has not been left out of facing this challenge.

Adam Sijan

For school teenagers like Adam Sijan, 15, such constraints have affected his homework and assignments.

The Form Three student of SMK Padawan said that, apart from inefficient Internet access, not having facilities like a computer centre had caused the delay of online assignments.

He said it took about one day for him to receive and submit his assignments.

“My teacher did send school assignments through WhatsApp group.

“Because of the limited telecommunication line, sometimes we have to wait more than one day to receive the document.

“The downloading and sending the document part really affects my assignment submission,” he told New Sarawak Tribune during a Gawai visit last Sunday at Kampung Sapit.

Azlyn Begus

Sharing the same problem, Adam’s cousin, Azlyn Begus, also a Form Three student of SMK Padawan, said it was not only the Internet access problem but the limited line of the telecommunication service provider also caused them to hardly keep in touch with their teachers.

“Maxis, Celcom, Digi – all these lines are very limited at our village.

“Sometimes, we need to stand at the corner of the hill just to contact my teachers to update my school assignments.

“If you go to the lower area, you will not be able to contact anyone because the lines are only available at higher place. Don’t even dream to send or receive any sms (short messaging system)” she added.

Yuyuh Gumi

Village head Yuyuh Gumi, when asked about the issue, said he had spoken with the local authority.

“We already talked about this with our representative assemblyman.

“We have asked to develop more communication towers so that we can enjoy Internet access like those in the city,” he said.

On this year’s Gawai’s celebration, Yuyuh said the occasion was simple since his children were not able to go back for Gawai due to movement restrictions.

“My three children are now working in Johor. We can only talk on the phone and meet through video call if I’m in town,” he added.

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