KUCHING: Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing has a question for the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (KPDNKK): “Why aren’t essential items and services in rural areas subsidised?”
The Bintulu MP wants an explanation from KPDNKK.
In his Facebook feed yesterday (April 28), he claimed that rural communities were complaining prices of essential items had spiked, especially during this post-pandemic period.
“The government has allocated more than RM100 million yearly for transport allowance and quotas for essential supplies in rural Sarawak.
“This includes rice, cooking oil, flour, sugar, gas tank, diesel and petrol fuel and other essential items. However, when I visited a longhouse today (yesterday), they complained that prices had skyrocketed during this endemic phase.
“There are people still struggling with their lives and now they have to bear with the high prices of items, greatly affecting the people,” said Tiong, who is also Dudong assemblyman.
The Special Envoy of the Prime Minister to China then questioned the government on the subsidies and why the rural communities had to pay for items that were two or three times more expensive than items in the city.
He suggested that the government should help in terms of logistics and transportation to force down the prices.
“Yet, the incident of subsidies and related provisions not reaching or not benefiting the people as a whole is nothing new.
“Instead, it has happened often since I became the people’s representative here for five terms. Have the authorities carried out strict surveillance? I ask the ministry, have the subsidied items been reaching the rural areas?
“If you cannot give any clear explanations, I suggest that the KPDNKK Bintulu branch chief be held accountable or resign!” he added.
Tiong also urged the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to investigate the matter.
“Do you think this is an inland area, surrounded by mountains and far away from the government administrative centre, then you can do as you please and feel as no one knows?
“The fact is, complaints like this have been reported repeatedly, and the officer in question must take things seriously.
“I have been serving as the Bintulu MP for five terms, and this issue has not been resolved to our satisfaction, in fact it has only gotten worse! This is something that is unacceptable!” said Tiong.
