(From left) Bain, Labaw, Rumah Labaw resident Nyalu Untam and Rumah Ekau Ubong resident Lon Agon want the telecommunications tower repaired immediately.
KAPIT: Some 6,000 villagers from 20 longhouses in Nanga Mujong and Nanga Bawai, Sungai Paku in Baleh have had no mobile phone reception since the beginning of the month due to a faulty tower.
The villagers have appealed to the parties concerned to immediately rectify the situation.
“These days we’re so dependent on the handphone to communicate with the outside world. Many of our children and relatives are living in Kapit and other parts of Malaysia – Sibu, Kuching, Bintulu, Miri and even in the peninsula,” lamented Tuai Rumah Labaw Engi from Telok Gimang to the media yesterday.
“Now that the telecommunications tower has malfunctioned, our handphones are out of service. This is very bad because it causes great hardship and inconvenience to us dwelling on the outskirts of Kapit. We hoped the agency responsible for it or the owner will look into the matter and resolve it quickly to reinstate the service.”
He said the last two weeks without mobile phone services have been more than they can tolerate.
“Don’t let the handphone consumers pay for the bills and yet be deprived of the service,” Labaw added.
Rumah Ikau, Nanga Mujong resident Bain Bayang also appealed for the tower to be repaired.
“Last time it was all right because we didn’t use handphones, but now it’s a necessity. Wireless communication is part and parcel of our daily routine,” he said.