SIBURAN: Mambong has achieved 60 per cent internet access coverage, said its incumbent Datuk Dr Jerip Susil.
Thanks to the involvement of the Sarawak Multimedia Authority (SMA) via Sarawak Rural Broadband Network (MYSRBN), he said the rural areas now enjoyed internet access which will be utilised during the upcoming 12th state election (PRN12).
“However, only, for now, the telecommunication tower is not equipped with internet facilities.
“For the use of WiFi, we just wait for enough number of telecommunication towers to be built. When the internet facility is completed, the broadband will go through the rural areas as well,” he said.
He told reporters this after officiating at the closing of Mambong Community and Racial Leaders (KMKK) Management Seminar at Fairyland Restaurant, here yesterday (Nov 20).
Dr Jerip further elaborated that the MySRBN is also significant for the PRN12 later on given that the conditions in Sarawak are unique compared to the election process in Melaka.
“To reach out to the people during the election campaign, we will do it virtually using cyberspace, social media applications such as WhatsApp or YouTube because most areas in Mambong are already covered by the internet.
“With the availability of Wifi in villages, we can follow the standard operating procedures (SOPs) to do our campaign safely,” he said.
He said that networks have been set up with villages in the area and will go to places as well as set up special programmes in accordance to the Covid-19 SOPs.
“This time is very different as compared to the previous election because of the pandemic, no gatherings are allowed.
“Therefore, plans are in place to do our election campaign through various mediums and we will adapt to the situation and with what we have.
“The important thing is that, we want people to go out and vote. If possible, we want more than 65 per cent of the people to go out and vote,” said Dr Jerip.
Earlier on, he said that the seminar was very important for community leaders to learn on how to manage the community as well as to know their roles and responsibilities to their communities.
“We need to hold seminars like this because every year, current development issues and government policies are always changing from time to time.
“Therefore, we must also change in terms of knowledge, add more trainings and then we must be aware and sensitive to the right policy,” he said.
He explained that the policy for Sarawak is to move into a more brilliant era and make Sarawak a developed state by 2030.
