MIRI – Dayak Think Tank Association Sarawak wants the authorities to resolve nagging woes faced by rural people relating to the withdrawal of cash aid promised by the state government.
Founder and adviser Wellie Henry Majang said many people are facing difficulties checking whether the cash aid promised to them by the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government have been deposited as there are no banks in most of the rural districts in Sarawak.
He told The Vibes that even when the funds have been banked in, the recipients living in rural locations have to travel to cities and towns just to withdraw the money.
“Many rural folks have to travel long distances to towns just to go to the bank to check if the Bantuan Khas Sarawak Sayangku (state government’s special aid) promised by the GPS has been paid into their bank account.
“Withdrawing the money is another difficult task. They have to queue for long hours,” he said today.
“Many travelled (from) the night before and slept on the streets and queued up during early morning hours already.”
Majang said many banks in towns are facing long queues with lines extending out to the streets.
“Many of those in these long queues are folks from outstation villages where there are no ATM facilities.
“The state government must act on this… Get the banks to set up ATM machines in every district,” he said.
Majang said there are also complaints of frequent ATM breakdowns even in the cities and towns.
This piles even more challenges on the overburdened recipients, he stressed.
Majang urged GPS to fulfil its election promises of cash aid through the Bantuan Khas Sarawak Sayangku schemes.
“Now that the state election is over and GPS has won 76 of the 82 seats, GPS must fulfil all its promises,” he said.
Many Dayaks have suffered tremendous hardship due to the severe Covid-19 crisis in Sarawak over the past two years, he said.
He said the Dayaks hope that next year will bring better tidings for the community. – The Vibes, December 30, 2021
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