MIRI – The Sarawak government lacks a concrete action plan to tackle the rising cost of living in the state, Society for Rights of Indigenous Peoples of Sarawak (SCRIPS) said.
Its secretary-general Michael Jok questioned why the ruling Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) coalition did not have a plan, noting that it is almost a year since the state election last December when GPS promised to address the issue.
“The new prime minister (Datuk Seri) Anwar (Ibrahim) has already zoomed in on the high cost of living as his very first priority after being appointed.
“He is getting his Putrajaya team to come up with workable plans to find solutions.
“GPS in Sarawak must also do the same already,” Jok told The Vibes.
A state-level special committee comprising relevant government agencies and community groups should be formed to look at the issue from the perspective of rural Sarawakians, said Jok, who is also a native land law expert.
“Rural Sarawakians pay double due to the accumulated costs of transportation and delivery charges, plus additional overhead costs like labour.
“Draw up realistic plans to lower such costs now,” he added.
Jok, who is also a native land law expert, said SCRIPS is willing to work with the state government to help rural Sarawakians, who are especially hard hit.
He noted that the state’s rural population comprise some one million people.
He suggested SCRIPS gather information from people in remote areas and channel it to the authorities.
Stop lobbying, focus on the people
Jok also said Sarawakians should not be overly worried about which GPS politician would be made deputy prime minister.
“Enough politics, we must work to help the ordinary folk,” he said.
Similarly, local opposition Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) also said GPS component parties should stop lobbying for the deputy prime minister and other senior federal cabinet posts, and should focus on addressing rising living costs.
PSB vice-president Datuk Lawrence Lai had told The Vibes that Anwar is doing the right thing by making the cost of living issue his first priority.
“Anwar has started his administration on the best footing possible by immediately focusing on helping the ordinary rakyat, who are plagued by high costs of living.
“Anwar did not zoom in on portfolios or consolidating powerful positions, but instead set his sights on the grassroot rakyat as his very first mission after taking office. PSB gives him top marks for that.
“GPS politicians will do well to learn from Anwar,” said Lai, a senior lawyer and former Miri mayor.
“For the past week or so after GE15, GPS component parties and their supporters have been involved in intensive lobbying for the DPM and other senior cabinet posts.
“They have not even talked about what GPS intends to do to stop the surging costs of living in Sarawak,” Lai said.
GPS won 23 out of the 31 parliamentary seats in this vast state during the recent GE15. After initially supporting Perikatan Nasional to form a federal government, it is now supporting Anwar’s government, which also comprises Barisan Nasional and Gabungan Rakyat Sabah. – The Vibes, November 30, 2022
