TAMPIN, May 20 — The government will ensure that residents in rural areas, especially those involving the Federal Land Development Authority (FELDA), the Federal Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Authority (FELCRA) and the Rubber Industry Smallholder Development Authority (RISDA) are not marginalised from 5G coverage, says Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
He 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 Negeri 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.
Ahmad Zahid, who is also Rural and Regional Development Minister said rural communities must be given equal treatment in getting 5G coverage even though it had now reached 64 per cent in highly populated areas.
Apart from that, he said the government would ensure the housing issue for Felda’s second generation was 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.
