KOTA KINABALU: A total of 1,700 public phones will be set up in Sabah to further improve the coverage of communication facilities in the state.
Bahari (right) tries the new Helo phone while Wan Rashdan looks on. - Photo by Sahar Buraera.
Mayor Datuk Iliyas Ibrahim said the project, to be carried out by Pernec Paypoint Sdn Bhd, would benefit more Sabahans, particularly people who live in rural areas.
“Currently there are still many areas that lack communication facilities in the state. I believe with the addition of 1,700 public phones, it will help many Sabahans, particularly those who moved from their hometowns to the city for work, to keep in touch with their families.”
“The effort to improve public phones with the introduction of Helo phone cards, Helo Spot and Helo Ads will also help those who cannot afford mobile phones to contact their families and friends,” he said at the launch of Helo new phone booths at Lintasan Deasoka here yesterday.
His speech was delivered by City Hall deputy director-general (corporate) Bahari Hassan.
Although mobile phones are common nowadays, Iliyas said public phone users are still on the rise.
“Users also hope that public phone services could be further upgraded to allow international calls,” he said, adding that the design of Helo phone booths could enhance the beauty of the city.
Also present at the launch of the booths were Pernec Paypoint Sabah zone head Ilhami Mohamad and Helo Sabah media chief Wan Rashdan Wan Yahya, Eksekutif Sdn Bhd director Ahmad Rasley Othman and Borneolink Sdn Bhd manager Jonathan Goh.