Paklah, come to Ulu Baram and see for yourself

We hope our Deputy Chief Minister, Datuk Patinggi Jabu, could voice out the Dayak community’s plight on the current fuel hike.

Not only the transportation cost that need to be address, but the Dayaks would be more grateful if the BN government can extend the petrol subsidy to include longhouses, kampong or individual who own generator set to light up their homes.

Since the BN government have not been able to provide stable electricity to a lot of rural homes (although the high tension power lines are above their homes), the best Gawai gift would be subsidized petrol price for our generator sets.

Logistic companies too should be allowed to buy petrol/diesel at the subsidized price.

Extract from The Star Online

Sarawak to raise transport cost issue with PM
By JACK WONG

KUCHING: Sarawak will discuss with the Federal Government ways to minimise the adverse impact of the higher fuel and food prices in the rural areas.

Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Alfred Jabu said the state government would raise the issue of high transportation costs in sending fuel and food to smaller towns and remote areas with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi during his working visit here on Tuesday.

“It is hoped that the Federal Government will be sympathetic (to the plight of rural folk),” he added Friday when asked at Wisma Bapa Malaysia here.

He earlier chaired a meeting to finalise preparations for the national-level Gawai Dayak Open House at the state indoor stadium here on June 14.

Jabu, who is also state Infrastructure Development and Communications as well as Rural Development Minister, said in the last fuel increment two years ago, the Federal Government had given transport subsidies to Sarawak to send fuel to some remote areas, like the highlands in northern Sarawak. The subsidy is still on.

He said if the high transportation cost could be addressed, this would enable rural traders to sell food and fuel at prices comparable to that in urban areas.

“The people’s welfare is always in our hearts. We don’t want them to suffer.”

On reported fuel shortages in rural areas which had affected land and river transportation, he said this could not be ruled out.

“I would like to know the real situation. I am monitoring the situation with all the divisional Residents,” he said, adding that he has yet to receive any feedback.