By Tay Tian Yan, Sin Chew Daily

Sabah girl Veveonah Mosibin's plight of staying on a tree for better internet connection in order to sit for her online examination has moved many people. Her plight reflected the day-to-day issue in rural Sabah.

I watched her videos on YouTube. 

One of the videos showed how she sat for the online examination held during the MCO.

Due to poor internet connection, she was unable to sit for the examination at home. She had to walk a long distance to a small hill where she could get better internet connection.

Veveonah used the soil and grass to make a mini hut for herself in order to complete her homework and sit for the examination.

Two days later, the hut collapsed due to heavy rain and thunderstorm. She had no time to rebuild the hut and had to climb a tree instead. She spent a night on the tree with a mosquito net and sat for the examination the following day.

Using her handphone, she recorded the entire episode and uploaded it on YouTube. 

This 18-year-old lass is optimistic and creative in finding ways to overcome the deficiencies in infrastructure.

Her story has since motivated Malaysians and even the world!

I am moved by the fact that when Veveonah related her story, she blamed no one. Neither did she complain about her plight. She revealed how she had spent her day sitting for the examination in a simple and straightforward manner.

She is a young woman with high EQ!

Veveonah's story reflects the realistic lives of many Sabahans in the interiors – lack of internet with pathetic infrastructure, medical facilities, water and electricity supply that do not meet the most basic standards.

The federal and Sabah state governments should look into such issues and improve the services so that the people are entitled to their rights as Malaysians.

Genuine or not, smart politicians should show their concern for the underprivileged in East Malaysia and assist them in whatever way they can.

Deputy communications and multimedia minister Zahidi Zainul Abidin claimed that Veveonah did not sit for her examination that day.

According to him, Veveonah was "just a YouTuber wanting to make a name for herself".

In response to Zahidi's claim, Veveonah showed her examination timetable.

Zahidi later claimed that it was his colleague, Kudat MP and deputy finance minister Abdul Rahim Bakri, who furnished him the information.

After Abdul Rahim was identified as the source, he wrote on his Facebook that a University Sabah Malaysia lecturer provided him the information and he had also instructed his assistant to check on Veveonah's family.

His FB post caused further uproar. People started to question his conclusion that Veveonah did not sit for the examination based on a lecturer's account. Did he have the power to investigate Veveonah's family?

The post was subsequently deleted after stirring the backlash.

The issue did not stop here. Zahidi Zainul was prepared to visit Sabah on a fact-finding tour!

Zahidi Zainul does not seem to know his role and his predicament. 

As deputy communications and multimedia minister, he should set a good example by not quoting any unverified source. He should have not spread fake news, especially at the Senate.

As a matter of fact, he should focus more on solving the issue of poor internet connection, especially in the remote areas of Sabah.

Instead, he opted to take on an 18-year-old lass who has now become an icon of positive energy unfazed by limitations of life.

The same goes for deputy finance minister Abdul Rahim. As an elected representative, he should take the lead in assisting people in his constituency. Instead, he opted to evade his duty and pick on Veveonah's family.

The two deputy ministers are living comfortably in their own worlds. They care only about their own political careers but not Veveonah's daily needs. They do not understand the hardships encountered by people living in the remote areas and ignore their voices.

They see Veveonah as a powerless young girl unable to fight them back.

However, when all the people pool together, they are the giants!

Veveonah is the icon of these little people whose votes count in the upcoming Sabah elections.

The two deputy ministers with poor IQ have caused public outrage, especially among the underprivileged.

To a certain extent, the incident will affect the public image of the Perikatan Nasional government.

How can one blame the opposition for playing up the issue?