MIRI – Natives based in rural parts of Sarawak are calling for the federal government to assist them in boosting their small-scale businesses as part of their wish list for Budget 2022.
Social activist Harry Wing, who hails from Belaga, Sarawak, said rural natives currently operating small-scale businesses – such as vegetable farming, livestock rearing, river fishing, and handicraft making – have seen their incomes badly affected for the past two years.
“Due to the Covid-19 crisis, we were unable to carry out our activities as usual due to the fear of infections that have limited our marketing activities.
“There were many longhouses affected by the MCO (movement control order) measures, whereby travel to farms became limited.
“Planting and harvesting were affected, and our produce meant for urban areas seriously declined. We have lost a lot of resources and income since.
“I hope the government will come up with specific packages to help us natives who are only capable of small-scale businesses,” he told The Vibes.
Previous budgets, Wing said, usually provided financial aid and material packages to licensed entrepreneurs.
“However, in rural Sarawak, there are thousands of natives operating their small-scale business activities on their own native land. These are the people who need the most help,” he said.
Additionally, Wing called for the setting up of special education funds to help rural students with their learning.
Many rural students, he said, are still without computers and other modern learning devices in their respective settlements. – The Vibes, October 26, 2021
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