On 26 March, the NiAT team visited two remote villages in the Belait District, namely Kg Sukang and Kg Melilas.
The visit was part of NiAT’s research and development project, aimed at providing quality internet services to those with underprivileged backgrounds in the digitised landscape.
The visit was a follow-up from an earlier visit on March 10 to install VSAT satellites. This enabled the village residents to access broadband WiFi connection for the first time ever, offering opportunities such as e-learning and e-commerce.
At Sekolah Rendah DMS Dian Sukang, the internet access has allowed pupils to access e-learning materials created by the Ministry of Education and other educational sources. Teachers were pleased that having connectivity has facilitated not only teaching but also school administration and reporting duties.
The sight of the children gleefully surfing the web and accessing online learning materials was truly a heartwarming experience.
Faiz Yaakub, NiAT Project Lead
The biggest change they experienced was the ability to connect with their family and friends, not only in Brunei but also those who are studying in the United Kingdom. This really helped them feel more connected than ever, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Meanwhile, some of the more resourceful residents at the Melilas Longhouse have been selling their handicraft wares online.
It has been hard trying to keep up with the demand but we are very excited of the interest and opportunities that is now available to us.
Hjh Noraliah from Kg Melilas Long House, about the significant influx of customer requests after she started promoting her traditional handcrafted rattan bags, mats, and other items on social media.
Background Information
Kg Sukang is a rural village in Ulu Belait. It is located in Mukim Sukang, about 90km from the capital Kuala Belait.
It is accessible from Jln Labi and through Jln Merangking, although most of the roads leading to the village are tarmac roads which progressively transitions to off-road terrains. While it is accessible by small sedans, part of the roads are prone to flooding and during the rainy season, it can get challenging even for 4×4 vehicles.
The residents of Kg Sukang consists of Dusun communities living mostly in the main Rumah Besar (home to the Penghulu and around 90 people) and the Punan/Penan communities living mostly in the Rumah Panjang (around 60 people).
The rest of the population is scattered in houses and small government buildings across the whole village. A more populated area is near the only school found in the village, Sekolah Rendah DMSD Sukang. The school has a total of 14 students and some 14 working staff.
There are several buildings within the vicinity, such as the teacher’s quarters, Sukang Clinic, Sukang Police Station, Sukang Rest House, and Sukang Religious Hall.
Kg Sukang’s Google Map Coordinates is 4°18’40.1″N114°37’28.0″E.
Meanwhile, Kg Melilas is another rural village found in Ulu Belait. Located about 15km from Kg Sukang, the terrain leading to it consists of hilly areas, narrow rough roads, and muddy dirt paths that are better suited for 4×4 off-road vehicles. The residents consist of mostly Iban communities that came from different origins, as well as Muslim converts.
In 2016, a main longhouse was built, accommodating some 15 private units. The normal number of people is less than 100 during normal days, and swells to more than 300 during special occasions and holidays.
The Google Map Coordinates for Kg Melilas is 4°15’26.6″N 114°39’41.5″E.
This area will be the prime location for the antenna to be installed.
Google Map Coordinates is 4°18’40.1″N 114°37’28.0″E.
