BATU PAHAT – Disruption of internet service has brought evacuees sheltering at Kampung Parit Lapis Bangas Jamek Mosque relief centre at Sri Medan here, closer together.
Like many teenagers who are addicted to their smartphones, Fatin Nur Syazana Mohamad Ares, 17, realised with the internet down she spends more time with her friends.
“To while away the hours, my friends and I have been playing traditional games and spending time chatting and getting to know each other better.
“If there has been no problem with the internet connection, many would be doing their own thing playing online video games or surfing the net,” she said when met at at the relief centre recently.
The centre which opened from March 3 is housing 199 evacuees from 60 families.
Apart from internet failure due to floods, the relief centre could only rely on generator sets for electricity supply and access to the centre is only possible by boat after the nearby main road was submerged in two-metre deep floodwaters.
Meanwhile, an eight-year-old boy who only wanted to be known as Alif, said he became internet savvy and began using social media two years ago after borrowing his parents’ smartphones.
“I love watching cartoon videos and playing online video games but since I have been here at the centre, my parents’ smartphones are only being used to take photographs, record videos and to call landline numbers.
“With the internet down, I am with my friends most of the time but I hope the internet service in this area would be restored as soon as possible,” he said.- Bernama
