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PETALING JAYA: The mishap that led to seven villagers falling off a bridge in Ranau, Sabah, in an attempt to gain access to the Internet, has once again highlighted the difficulty rural people face in seeking digital access.
Teach for Malaysia CEO Chan Soon Seng said the case reflected the digital and physical connectivity gap between urban and rural areas.
“Now more than ever, connectivity is a basic need to fully participate in society. Connectivity should not be provided only when a problem occurs.
“Therefore, we urge the relevant authorities and private companies to facilitate a faster deployment of the connectivity infrastructure, targeting the remote areas that need it most,” he said when contacted.
On November 24, eight villagers, including three students, were on the bridge in Kampung Gusi when a cable broke, causing seven people to fall off the bridge with one person dangling.
All three students are believed to have gone to the bridge to follow lessons online.
A 16-year-old girl suffered a femur fracture while a 36-year-old man had an injured spine. The rest received outpatient treatment.
Yesterday, Malaysia’s Multimedia and Communications Commission announced that VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) technology would be installed in the village to temporarily equip it with broadband services.
Melaka Action Group for Parents in Education President Mak Chee Kin said the incident was “tragic” and showed the barriers rural students face in accessing online lessons.
“Internet connectivity should be the immediate goal of our government,” he said.
He said funding should be given immediately to efforts to boost digital infrastructure in rural areas.
20-year-old Nurlieda Khaleeda Mohd Azmi, University of Malaya medical student, studies in a tent on the top of a hill behind her house, where she can connect to the Internet in the same village. – Bernama
Datuk Dr. Denison Jayasooria, a former professor of public promotion at the Institute for Ethnic Studies at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, also agreed that the digital divide was a major problem in Malaysia.
“The incident is a sad sign of underinvestment in local development issues, which many in West Malaysia take for granted.
“Malaysia must address these concerns, especially to allow children and young people to access education online,” he said.
He added that it was essential for government agencies at the district level and local authorities to be more proactive in reporting connectivity issues to facilitate digital access.
“A decentralized effort and partnership with local neighborhood leaders is also essential.
“A feedback system for grassroots development planning should be available, especially in Sabah and Sarawak, to address many development problems that arise from long-term neglect,” he said.
Muhammad Nazmi Rosli, a teacher from Sarawak, said that the lack of internet connectivity in rural areas was a major problem to address.
“As a rural teacher, this has been a serious problem for a long time.
“To handle this, we cannot say that it is solely the responsibility of the Ministry of Education. We have to involve other ministries, like the Ministry of Rural Development.
“Everyone has to play their role, like NGOs and parents. Parents should also know their children’s schedules and the best location for their children to take their classes online.
“There is a saying that it takes a village to raise a child. We must ensure that education is a human right and not a privilege, ”he said.
Earlier this year, Universiti Malaysia Sabah student Veveonah Mosibin inadvertently made headlines when she posted a video of herself climbing a tree to get better internet access to sit for her exams.
His video reflects Malaysia’s urgent need to remove barriers to online education, especially among rural students.
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