Veveonah’s brother challenges deputy ministers to visit rural village

The brother of Veveonah Mosibin has challenged the two deputy ministers who accused her of lying for publicity to visit their Pitas village to witness the backward amenities there.

In a public Facebook post late last night, Mekvin Mosibin defended his sister’s move to post a YouTube video of herself climbing a tree to obtain internet connection for an online examination.

The now-viral video sparked public discussion over poor internet infrastructure in rural Sabah.

Last week, Communications and Multimedia Deputy Minister Zahidi Zainul Abidin claimed that she had filmed the clip to garner publicity and not for any examination. He apologised after Veveonah set the record straight. 

Commenting on the saga, Mekvin criticised Zahidi for targeting Veveonah and invited him to visit their village.

“Try coming into rural villages, come come. But don’t choose certain villages only, come to the whole area. Even the most rural of places.

“Try experiencing how it is to surf the internet in the rural village.

“And that is just the internet. We have not talked about water supply, electricity and roads yet,” he said.

'Come down to the ground, come when it rains'

Yesterday, Zahidi passed the buck to local MP Abdul Rahim Bakri and said it was the latter who had provided him with incorrect information. 

The Kudat lawmaker, who is also the deputy finance minister, responded by attempting to further discredit Veveonah by sharing his sources of information. He deleted his Facebook post after netizens criticised him for using his platform to personally attack the 18-year-old. 

Commenting on this, Mekvin remarked that Abdul Rahim was rarely seen in Pitas and suggested he go to the ground.

“Come down to the ground, come when it rains and experience the roads here,” he said.

As for the Bersatu politician’s claim that the Mosibin family did not live in the village anymore, Mekvin admitted this was true but claimed they had been “chased out” by the same local village chief who had supplied Abdul Rahim with the information.

“The village chief is not from Kampung Sapatalang but he chased my father out of the village when my father is from Kampung Sapatalang,” he explained.  - Mkini