MIRI – Native rights activists and the people of Sarawak have expressed anger over the shocking increase in prices of government-subsidised white rice in various parts of the state.
Though the government had set the price at RM31 per 10kg bag to be sold to consumers, the actual prices in Sarawak are much higher than that.
It is as high as RM68 per 10kg bag in central Sarawak, and up to RM42 per 10kg bag in Miri.
Prominent native rights activist Harry Wing today called on elected representatives to wake up to what is happening on the ground.
Belaga-based Wing told The Vibes today that in the rural district, he had found that govt-subsidised white rice is being sold at RM68 per 10kg bag.
“Government leaders say the price for the 10kg white rice is set at RM31 per bag, but here in Belaga, I found the price at RM68 per 10kg bag.
“The seller said the price is high due to transportation costs.
“What happened to the transportation subsidy that the government was supposed to be paying to transporters?
“I hope the elected representatives will go to the ground immediately and check on this situation.
“Rice is a basic daily necessity, but for us in rural Sarawak, it is going to be beyond our financial capability to even buy rice if this shockingly high price is not corrected immediately,” he said.
In Miri, which is some 400km from Belaga, the price of govt-subsidised rice is between RM40 to RM42 per 10kg bag.
A housewife, Pauline Julia told The Vibes that retail shops are selling at that price.
“The actual prices in the market in Miri is not RM31 per 10 kg bag as mentioned by government leaders.
“It is actually between RM40 to RM42 per 10kg bag.
“Many traders in Miri said the type of rice, which the government fixed at RM31 per 10kg bag, is sold out in Miri.
“They said the ones still available for sale are more expensive. Is that true?” she asked.
The Vibes has contacted local elected representatives, including Sarawak United Peoples Party secretary general Datuk Sebastian Ting on the matter.
Ting is also Piasau assemblyman and deputy state tourism minister. – The Vibes, October 6, 2023
