Address shortage of ATMs in rural towns: Rep
KUCHING: Authorities should provide mobile essential services especially to those living in rural areas to prevent overcrowding of people seeking inter-district travel passes during this movement control order (MCO) period, suggested Engkilili assemblyman Dr Johnical Rayong Ngipa.
He was referring to a recent report that over 100 people had been queuing up at the Pakan Police Station to get inter-district travel passes, allowing them to visit Sarikei for necessities such as getting fuel, withdrawing cash and attending medical appointments.
“To avoid the same issue from repeating, services such as mobile ATMs/banking and mobile healthcare should be provided to the rural folk,” he said.
Dr Rayong said feedback from rural towns had shown that the shortage of ATMs was a major issue.
He called on relevant banks to address this especially during the MCO.
“Everyone should fully comply with the MCO and measures such as the mandatory inter-district travel passes. This is to protect the good of everyone so that we can curb the spread of Covid-19,” he said.
Meanwhile, Serembu assemblyman Miro Simuh and Layar assemblyman Gerald Rentap Jabu both felt that the issuance of inter-district travel passes should be more stringent.
Simuh said it seemed that some were taking this as an opportunity for them to return to their respective villages and longhouses.
“We should be strict at the first point and only let those with valid and concrete reasons go out,” he said.
He expressed concern over the effectiveness of the MCO, noting that people were flocking on the road much like any ordinary day while supermarkets and wet markets were packed with shoppers. He urged authorities to apply stricter conditions to all travellers.
Rentap said the biggest concern was if the Covid-19 pandemic spread to the longhouses and rural communities.
“It can spread like wildfire due to the practice of communal living and a close-knit community.”
“I hope that those who need not travel will stay at home and persevere with the current situation,” he said.
He pointed out that the MCO had been put in place to curb the spread of Covid-19 and he felt the results had been encouraging thus far.
