Mawan (third right), Siong (third left) and David Linang (second left) showing the various types of handy. Also seen are (from left) Zainal Abidin, Ahmad and Suhaili. — Photo by Churchill Edward
KUCHING: Fishermen, seafarers, adventurers, Search and Rescue (SAR) volunteers and even elected representatives should carry a ‘handy’ for remote communication as the gadget comes into practical use in areas not covered by commercial telecommunication lines.
Sarawak Amateur Radio Emergency Services (Sares) encourages more people to carry the handy and Sares could provide training or course to users, where all holders must be licenced.
“It is important that rural folks, especially the youth and their schools, be ready for any eventuality. One aspect is their knowledge on using the handy effectively during desperate times,” said Sares deputy president Joseph Siong after paying a courtesy call on Social Development Minister Tan Sri William Mawan at his office in Petra Jaya here on Wednesday.
“This could bring new meaning to the level of emergency preparedness and extension of SAR operation. Our volunteers could come for SAR in any emergency. Not all areas in Sarawak are covered by commercial telecommunication service,” he added.
Sares are also targeting members of the village security and development committee (JKKK) as well as community leaders, starting from elected representatives right down to the chieftains as their new trainees, said Siong.
Set up last year as an NGO, Sares has also inked an understanding with the state Civil Defence Department in the form of setting up the Technical Communication Unit (or UTK). The practical usage of the handy and information passing through the system are regulated by laws linked to Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), he said.
The cost of the gadget can range from RM150 into thousands of ringgit per unit, depending on its capability, quality and international brand, Siong said.
The handy is different from the Automatic Telephone Using Radio (Atur) and walkie-talkie. The Atur depends very much on satellite service or coverage while the walkie-talkie is only used in short-distance communication.
Users would find the handy effective in long-distance communication and therefore useful for SAR purposes in remote areas, said Siong who also encourages all longhouse in the remote to own one.
Yesterday, Sares members, including Siong, supervised an examination for 41 new trainees who must pass a paper set by MCMC.in order for them get their user licence. Sares now has 60 over members.
Accompanying Siong to pay Mawan the courtesy call on Wednesday were Sares Lundu chairman Ahmad Basri as well as Sares main body exco members David Linang Janting, Zainal Abidin Abdul Rahman and Suhaili Banjar.