GUA MUSANG: The Orang Asli community has made a plea in earnest for automatic teller machines (ATMs) and cash deposit machines (CDMs) to be installed at the Kuala Betis Resettlement (RPS) to facilitate their banking needs.
Siti Nornadia Kamarzaman, 37, said the provision of the facility was highly anticipated by the community as it would save them fuel costs in the great distance to traverse to the city.
"We are asking for ATM and CDM to be provided here because Kuala Betis is the entry and exit point for the Orang Asli population in the rural settlements in the Galas and Nenggiri state assembly (DUN) areas.
"So their journey too will be shortened because residents from Pos Hau, Pos Belatim, Pos Balar, Pos Bihai, Pos Simpor and Pos Gob have to ride motorbikes for more than 70 kilometres to get to Gua Musang town," she told Bernama today.
Similarly, Norasyikin Uda, 46, said not all villagers have their own vehicle and they have to rent a car with a fare of around RM50 to go in and out of the city.
"Most residents in this area have no choice, other than having to pay the travel fare that could be used to meet the basic needs of the family instead," she said.
Meanwhile, a Bernama survey found that until now, residents had to go to the nearest bank facility in the town of Gua Musang at a distance that takes 40 minutes to make cash withdrawals and deposit transactions.
Following that, Galas state assemblyman Mohd Syahbuddin Hashim said the need has been studied and he will try to provide ATM machines to facilitate the affairs of residents in the RPS Kuala Betis and Tanah Tinggi Lojing housing areas. – BERNAMA