No more 80km trips: New ATM eases banking woes for Lojing's Orang Asli community
GUA MUSANG: More than 3,000 Orang Asli residents from several settlements in the Lojing Highlands no longer need to travel approximately 80km to access an automated teller machine (ATM), following the installation of the facility at the Lojing Highlands Rest and Service (R&R) area yesterday.
A resident, Sani Alang, 45, said they previously had to travel to Gua Musang town at least once a month just to withdraw cash from an ATM.
He said the new ATM service had brought great relief to the community, easing the long-standing hardship of having to make long trips for basic banking transactions.
"Previously, I had to spend almost RM50 on fuel and travel around 80km to town just to withdraw money. Now, not anymore," he said.
"However, we hope that a cash deposit machine (CDM) can also be made available in the future for the convenience of residents."
Meanwhile, Galas assemblyman Mohd Syahbuddin Hashim said the facility benefits not only the Orang Asli community in Lojing but also tourists and road users travelling between Gua Musang, Lojing, and Cameron Highlands in Pahang.
He said this was the first ATM installed in the Lojing sub-district.
"This long-awaited Bank Simpanan Nasional (BSN) ATM has finally been installed and is now operational at the Lojing R&R.
"We are grateful to BSN chairman Datuk Seri Dr Awang Adek Hussin for the approval, and to the Implementation Coordination Unit (ICU) of the Prime Minister's Department for funding the building through the Galas assemblyman's service centre," he said.
"We have opened access and provided the necessary facilities for the people in remote areas," he added.
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