KOTA KINABALU – More people living in interior areas of Sabah will no longer need to pay more for the same pack of rice than those living in urban areas.
The Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry announced that appointed transporters have started working since Tuesday to transport seven types of essential goods to interior areas of Sabah, to ensure that they will not need to pay more for logistics and transportation costs.
The seven essential controlled-price items are rice, sugar, flour, cooking oil, liquefied petroleum gas, RON95 petrol, and diesel.
Its minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi said it is part of the ministry’s Community Drumming programme, which started in 2009.
The programme aims to close the price gap of essential items between people living in urban and rural areas by hiring transporters to eliminate additional transportation costs and maintaining the controlled prices of the goods.
“This year, the ministry will extend the programme to 137 more places, including interior areas and islands in Terangganu and Pahang, as well as Sabah and Sarawak.
“The government allocated RM200 million for the programme this year, an increase of RM50 million from last year’s allocation.
“While waiting for the appointment of new transporters in May this year, the ministry has extended the contracts for 151 existing transporters until April 30 this year, and they commenced work on Tuesday (January 12),” he said.
The ministry said it hopes the programme can reduce the financial burden of those living in interiors during the Covid-19 pandemic, especially those in Sabah and Sarawak. – The Vibes, January 14, 2020
