ALOR SETAR, Almost 600 residents of Kampung Sungkup, Sungai Petani are facing telecommunication problems after a telecommunications tower provided under the National Digital Network (JENDELA) Plan near the village was vandalised.

The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) in a statement today said the incident was reported by villagers to the Kedah MCMC office last Sunday after discovering that there were signs of vandalism including cables being cut and equipment stolen from the tower.

“The Kedah MCMC office and service provider appointed to manage the tower rushed to the scene of the incident on the same day to conduct an inspection. The service provider also lodged a police report.

“MCMC is currently considering several measures to restore telecommunication services around Kampung Sungkup. The telecommunications tower provides Celcom, Digi, Maxis and U Mobile services through the shared 4G MOCN (Multiple-Operator Core Network) method,” the commission said.

It said that the irresponsible act had caused the services of all the networks to be disrupted.

MCMC also requested the public to immediately report to the police if they have any information or notice any suspicious activity near the telecommunications infrastructure site.

“Offenders can be fined up to RM300,000 or sentenced to a maximum jail term of three years, or both,” it said.

MCMC will also increase cooperation with residents, the police and local authorities to prevent any attempt to break into telecommunication towers.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency