The devastating floods affecting Malaysia’s East Cost recently is taking a massive toll on over 200,000 people. Naturally will want to return to their normal live as soon as possible but witnessing the devastation first hand, many will find it difficult to even know where to start. It’s good news then that some corporations are looking at ways to ease the burden of those directly affected by the disaster.
One such organisation is Telekom Malaysia. In addition to sending a number of volunteers to flood-hit areas to help in the logistics and distributions of much needed aid supplies, the company has announced that it will provide a half-month rebate for the month of December. At the same time, TM will be holding off their January 2015 bill as it continues to restore the much damaged telecommunication infrastructure and services at the flood-hit areas in stages. The billing for customers will also resume in stages as and when their services are restored.
On top of that, TM will also replace all its Customer Premise Equipment (CPE) sets and affected customers will be receiving a new set in stages, as they start returning to or rebuilding their homes. TM will be announcing the procedure and process of the CPE sets’ replacement soon.
Tan Sri Zamzamzairani Mohd Isa, Group Chief Executive Officer, TM, said: “We completely emphatise and sympathise with our customers on the hardship they are facing. We realise that some customers will certainly need some reprieve in their financial obligations at this crucial time.
Whilst we are also trying our very best to restore and provide service continuity for our customers, we fully recognise that at this juncture, our customers have more pressing matters to deal with. We would thus like to assure our customers that they are not to be further burdened with worries about bill payments, service disconnection or suspension during this trying time. TM will also put all its credit management and collection activities on hold towards these affected customers as we understand that they need to look into more essential matters to get back on their feet after the devastating floods.”
At the same time, TM says that many of the company’s assets in flood-hit areas were greatly impacted as well. This included its telecommunications equipment and premises damaged by the flood. Some of its TMpoint outlets were badly hit with some so badly damaged that they may need to be relocated. The damages to TM assets due to the floods is estimated to be over RM20 million. While the cost to ease the burden of its subscribers is estimated to cost TM another RM20 million.
To mitigate this, TM dispatched several of its mobile TMpoint vehicles — TMpoint On Wheels (TMOW) — to support the affected TMpoint outlets in Kota Bharu, Tanah Merah, Pasir Mas and Kuala Krai in Kelantan. The TMOWs provide relief in the form of free telephone calls and free access to TM WiFi in addition to day-to-day operations like attending to customer enquiries and complaints as well as service applications daily from 10.00 am until 5.00 pm.
Considering the magnitude of the floods and the amount of damaged the floods created, what TM is offering is not much but at least its something and it’s the right thing to do.
If you’re a flood victim and want to know more about the rebate and free equipment replacement offered by TM, get in touch with them via email [[email protected]] or via @TMConnects on Twitter.
