THERE HAS been a rise in complaints from rural communities that it is difficult to purchase government-subsidised essential foodstuffs and household necessities in remote settlements of Sarawak.
Feedback on this plight faced by natives such as those living in the vast Baram district in northern Sarawak is being increasingly relayed to Telang Usan state assemblyman Dennis Ngau.
Ngau had recently arranged a meeting with the head of the Domestic Trade and Enforcement Ministry’s office in Miri, Joe Azmi, to discuss this matter.
He later told the media that Joe acknowledged this problem that is faced by the rural folks.
"The government has appointed contractors to deliver government-subsidised goods to rural settlements but many of the populace said they still cannot get these supplies.
"They said they had to continue buying at non-subsidised prices,” Ngau said. "I have asked the Domestic Trade office to look into this issue.”
“We don't want any transporter, supplier or trader to abuse the government-subsidised goods for profits and deny those who are rightfully in need of the items.”
"These government-appointed suppliers must do their job efficiently. If not, they should be replaced," he added.
The issue of rural folks facing hardship in getting goods at subsidised prices is not new.
On October 7 last year, The Vibes had highlighted a lack of supply of subsidised white rice in rural Sarawak.
The Society for Rights of Indigenous Peoples of Sarawak (Scrips) had even called for elected representatives to give an assurance to over a million rural Sarawakians that they would get adequate supplies at not more than RM31 per 10kg rice bag.
Its northern Sarawak coordinator Michael Ding said that the society’s members had found subsidised rice running out of stock at rural bazaars and trading outposts.
"All the YBs (elected reps) must make sure we rural folks get enough of the white rice at the price subsidised by the government,” he said.
Although the subsidised price was still high, the food item was already being snapped up fast, causing stocks to deplete.
He said the politicians must act proactively and not leave the task entirely to the government.
"The YBs must act fast now. Their political service centres must liaise with the relevant ministry at both state and federal levels to beef up the stocks in their respective constituencies,” Ding said.
Native rights activists and ordinary folks have also expressed anger with the shocking increase in on-the-ground prices of subsidised white rice in various parts of Sarawak.
Although the government had set the price at RM31 per 10kg bag, the actual prices on the ground in Sarawak are much higher than that.
In fact, it was found that the item was sold for as high as RM68 in the rural Belaga district in central Sarawak, and up to RM42 in Miri city.
Native rights activist Harry Wing has also found that the subsidised white rice being sold at RM68 per 10kg bag in Belaga.
He said that feedback from a retail seller was that the high price was due to transportation costs.
"What happened to the transportation subsidy that the government was supposed to be paying to transporters?”
"I hope the political elected representatives will go to the ground immediately and check on this situation,” he said. – The Vibes, February 28, 2024
