KUCHING, Feb 11: Sarawak Multimedia Authority (SMA) has urged telecommunication service providers to work with the government to expedite the setting up of Auto Teller Machines (ATM) to provide convenience of banking services for rural folks, local vendors and tourists in Sarawak.
In a media release, SMA general manager Ts Dr Zaidi Razak said SMA together with Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) are actively overseeing the construction of 36 new telecommunication towers in the Mulu constituency.
“I hope with the towers allocated for Bario and Mulu National Park areas, the service providers can assist to allocate dedicated lines to ensure stability for the operation of the ATMs in order to ease both physical and digital banking in the areas,” he said during a meeting with Mulu assemblyman Datuk Gerawat Gala, yesterday.
On another note, Gerawat pointed out that Bario and Mulu National Parks are known for
their tourism attractions, and frequently visited by people from around the world including local tourists.
“However the lack of banking facilities, especially ATMs, for tourists and locals in both places to have access to ready cash has always been a subject of complaints.
“Mulu is one of the biggest constituencies in Sarawak and due to its remoteness and very difficult terrain, physical and digital accessibility has always been a big challenge. The government through SMA, MCMC and Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation (SDEC) have been working hard to improve Internet connectivity in Mulu constituency as well as the whole of Sarawak,” he said in the same statement.
While the government has put in effort to ensure digital connectivity is improved across Sarawak in line with the Sarawak Premier’s policy on digital economy, Gerawat noted that many rural areas are still lacking in banking facilities.
“Despite the effort by Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) and RHB to introduce cashless banking in Bario in October last year, which the community very much welcomed, there are a large number of people in the rural constituencies who are still dependent on physical cash, which includes tourists and local vendors.
“Of course they can do online banking, but we also need to cater to that large sector of the local people in rural areas who are not used to digital banking. Therefore, we need to set up ATMs to provide convenience and basic banking services for the tourists, local vendors and community,” he asserted. — DayakDaily
