According to Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil, more than half of the 160 telecommunications towers damaged by the floods in Johor have been repaired as of yesterday.
Only those in Batu Pahat, he said, have yet to be repaired because the area is still flooded.
“The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission has also identified several towers that need to undergo a site heightening process to prevent them from being affected by the floods again.
“We have successfully carried out the process in Kelantan and Terengganu, which are often hit by floods. In Johor, we will look at the trends and areas at risk to make sure we can raise the position of towers in as many locations as possible.”
After presenting aid to flood victims in the state and visiting the Digital Economy Centre (PEDi) in Kampung Sungai Tiram, he told reporters this.
In a related development, Fahmi stated that the Communications and Digital Ministry will propose to the Education Ministry that PEDi in the state be used as home-based teaching and learning (PdPR) locations for students whose schools are still flooded or used as temporary relief centres.
“Currently, we are still gathering information to find out which schools are still affected, the students and which PEDi areas are close to them and can be used (for PdPR),” he said.
Fahmi stated that following his meeting with Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi, the ministry and state government agreed to form a task force to address telecommunications issues in Johor.
The task force’s first meeting was held, and the ministry was represented by Datuk Seri Mohammad Mentek, its secretary-general.
“This is a pilot project. If it succeeds in resolving the issues here, we will implement the same initiative in other states in the future,” he said.
When asked about the case of actor Kamal Adli being beaten by an unknown individual while attending a programme in Singapore, Fahmi said the ministry was still waiting for a full report on the matter but stressed that the safety of all parties, including artists, is a priority.
