KUCHING: Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) Backbenchers Club has slammed Sarawak Democratic Action Party (DAP) for calling the state government’s wish to set up its own mobile Internet service provider company a “hot air” idea.
“We have had enough of proposals from the Sarawak DAP. They haven’t even delivered on their litany of past proposals. As such a certain pledge of 50 percent taxes collected by the federal government to be returned to Sarawak and 20 percent of oil and gas royalty spring to mind,” GPS Backbenchers Club said in a joint statement yesterday.
They also questioned why Chong is against rural development.
“For a party claiming to be in touch with the people, they are once again out of touch. The lack of Internet connectivity in the rural areas will not magically be resolved. DAP knows very little about the situation on the ground. We wonder what the MP for Mas Gading thinks about this issue as he represents a lot of rural people,” said the statement.
GPS Backbenchers Club stressed that setting up towers alone in rural areas across the state is not enough as they should carry Internet service.
“Telecommunication’s companies based in Malaya had doubts as to whether they wanted to invest in these rural areas and for whatever reason they refused to come in.
“This is where the problem lies, so by setting up an Internet service provider (ISP) the state government is looking to resolve the problem. It is similar to buying a car that won’t move without any fuel in it. This continuous supply of fuel is what the state government wants,” it stressed.
It further said if the plan comes through, Sarawak would have its own Internet service provider company, providing jobs to local Information Technology (IT) graduates in the state, allowing them to make a living despite the world economic uncertainties.
“A government-owned ISP would make the dream of low cost and widespread Internet connectivity possible not only to the rural dwellers, but urban dwellers as well.
“It would cost a huge sum for Sarawak to form its own ISP, but in the long term, this will dwarf in comparison to the subsidy given by the state government to mega-rich telco companies to compensate their loss of revenue operating in rural areas for however long, which was what Sarawak DAP suggested.
“We don’t need to subsidise telco companies that are already sitting on piles of cash refusing to get off their high horse and play their part in serving the rural communities of Sarawak,” it pointed out.
They also said if a subsidy should be issued by the state government, it should be given to the people, in terms of lower Internet connectivity charges.
“This would not only lessen their burden to pay for exorbitant charges issued otherwise by the telco companies, this would allow them to sustain themselves and their families or even save up to purchase better IT gadgets, be it laptops or smartphones,” it said.
It lamented that Chong and the DAP seemingly trying to find any wrongdoings and shortcomings by the state government.
“It has to be said, all things listed by DAP are the work of an honest, working state government trying find solution to solve the problems and fulfil the needs of the people.
“This is a government that not only talks, but delivers on its promises rather than debating what the people should and shouldn’t have.
“The people do not need leaders who think that people’s needs should be politicised and that development should be an afterthought rather than the utmost priority,” it said.
The GPS Backbenchers Club also emphasised that setting up a government owned ISP may be the only option to resolve the problems of poor Internet coverage in rural outskirts of the state. Internet is a basic human need in today’s world and the hurdles to provide it to the people are aplenty.
