On Today Show
> Dok Laing- Residents of Penang Long Tanyit, Belaga and Gereng Jadum- Residents of Penan Metalun, Murum – Shin Yang Logging Camps Become the Only Source of Overpriced Essentials for Penan Villagers
> Geoffrey Tang, chairman of ROSE – Sarawak’s 2021-2024 Manifesto Under Public Scrutiny: ROSE Launches BICARA KAMEK
> George Laeng from Uma Akeh Baram – Sarawak Needs Real Change, Not Empty Promises
Topik Pada Hari Ini
> Dok Laing - Penduduk Penang Long Tanyit, Belaga dan Gereng Jadum - Penduduk Penan Metalun, Murum – Kem Pembalakan Shin Yang Menjadi Satu-Satunya Sumber Keperluan Asas yang Mahal untuk Penduduk Penan
> Geoffrey Tang, pengerusi ROSE – Manifesto Sarawak 2021-2024 di Bawah Pengawasan Awam: ROSE Melancarkan BICARA KAMEK
> George Laeng dari Uma Akeh Baram – Sarawak Memerlukan Perubahan Sebenar, Bukan Janji Kosong
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Dok Laing- Residents of Penang Long Tanyit, Belaga and Gereng Jadum- Residents of Penan Metalun, Murum
*Shin Yang Logging Camps Become the Only Source of Overpriced Essentials for Penan Villagers*
Puan Dok Laing is a penan from Long Tanyit in the Linau river in Belaga. The journey from Belaga to Long Tanyit takes 9 hours by road using 4-wheel drive. Through the Shin Yang logging area. Doc informed that the prices of basic necessities in his village and some nearby villages are very expensive. They had to buy rice, flour, cooking oil and other necessities at a canteen in Shin Yang Abit Camp. This is a camp built by Shin Yang specifically to process reclaimed wood into plywood. Here, the cheapest price for a 10kg bag of rice is RM45. Some are rm50, rm60 to rm70 depending on the brand. LPG gas barrel price rm45. The price of daily necessities here is twice as expensive as the nearby town of Bintulu or Belaga.
Asked whether the government allocated RM225 million in subsidies for companies to send 7 types of basic necessities to rural areas so that the prices remain cheap like in other places. According to Mrs. Doc. Indeed, there are goods like that that reach our village. But not much and not enough for the population. There are up to 20 rice combs, while we have 200 families in Long Tanyit. So is financial assistance to poor families. Some get rm300, rm400 and some get rm600 once they get it. But to withdraw the money from a nearby bank requires an expensive fare. To go to Belaga the return cost for one person is rm200 and to go to Bintulu is rm250. The aid given by the government is used up to pay the fare only. We hope in the budget that will be presented by the prime minister. The problems we face will be addressed. The story from Gereng Jadum is more or less the same as told by Puan Dok. Metalun residents buy food items at Shin Yang's Majumas Logging Camp. It's expensive, but we have no choice. To go to the nearest town - the cost of transportation is very high - said Gereng. Unfortunately in our village the sale of subsidized goods has been stopped since 3 years ago. We don't know why. We ask the government again to supply the grocery stores in the village with subsidized goods to make our lives easier. The price of a subsidized LPG Gas barrel is rm26.60. but sold for Rm45 at Abit Camp Shin Yang.
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