MIRI – Sarawak PKR wants to distribute more food aid among the rural poor but are stopping short of doing so due to the difficulty in obtaining inter-district travel permits from the police.
Its information chief Abun Sui Anyit told The Vibes that in recent weeks, PKR branches have been denied permission to travel into the interiors for this purpose.
“We need a police permit to travel across districts to deliver food supplies to rural folks who seek our assistance,” he said.
“Of late, our application for a permit had been rejected. We urge for flexibility from the police as our purpose to cross districts is for humanitarian reasons, not for politics.”
Last month, PKR branches in Miri and Baram had managed to deliver more than two tonnes of food aid to the longhouses.
Baram PKR information chief Dennis Along said essential food items were sent to the Long Terawan and Sg Tutoh localities.
The convoy with food items came from Miri city, which were then transported into the interior localities about 300 kilometres inland from here. Miri MP Dr Teo Yu Keng, who is Miri PKR chief, facilitated the food purchase.
The convoy used four-wheel drives, taking the Miri to Marudi route after picking up cargoes of rice, noodles, cooking oil, canned food, and dry rations.
From Marudi town, they braved jungle tracks into Long Terawan and the settlements of Mulu National Park, said Along.
“The rural people are badly-affected by recent floods and the current Covid-19 pandemic that affected their daily life. Places like Long Terawan and Long Panai were hard-hit by floods early this year and are in need of food supplies,” he said.
Along said PKR is also trying to offer food relief to lighten the burden of those whose income had dwindled due to loss of crops and jobs.
Meanwhile, Abun said there have been tighter restrictions imposed since early this month on travelling but he said it seems that government politicians are not affected.
“The government politicians can still travel freely, so we in the opposition should also be allowed the same, especially to carry out our humanitarian work,” he said.
Sarawak imposed inter-district travel restrictions as part of an effort to curb rising Covid-19 infections. – The Vibes, May 10, 2021
