KAPIT, Oct 11 — The recent petition signed by over 1,000 Kapit folk demanding better telecommunication services here is timely as locals are increasingly frustrated, said Lating

The Kapit District Council chairman said telecommunications service providers must treat Kapit folk like their customers in urban areas.

"It’s very frustrating to see that the internet and the telephone connection in most parts of Kapit, the reception is so weak that at times you only can get intermittent signals and you have to do a guessing game to make out what the person want to say to you.

"Thus, I do understand the dilemma being faced by Kapit folk with respect to this telecommunications issue. The relevant service providers therefore should be more attentive to the needs of rural communities like Kapit, so that they too can also enjoy the uninterrupted services of the telecommunication services,” he said in response to the petition, which was sent to Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Dato Sri Alexander Nanta Linggi, who is also Kapit MP.

Lating pointed out that students and teachers in Kapit also need uninterrupted services as partial online learning continues.

He stressed it is vital for telecommunications service providers to upgrade and enhance their network service facilities in order to cater to the needs of Kapit folk.

"To delay the implementation of the upgrading project means there would be more opportunities lost by the community in Kapit,” he added.

The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission has said that various measures would be made to improve telecommunications services here. — Borneo Post