MIRI: The high cost of travel from remote settlements in interior Sarawak to cities and towns using hired transport is a big burden for people in the interior.
Despite years of assurances from the federal and state governments about subsidising vehicle fuel costs, this problem has not been addressed.
Community elder Liam Iyu of the Penan settlement of Long Lamam, a seven-hour timber road journey plus half an hour's boat-ride from Miri, said villagers had to pay extremely high transportation charges imposed by operators of four-wheel drive vehicles.
He said he often travelled with his family to Miri to sell his farm produce and for health and medical checks at the Miri Hospital.
His children also attend primary school in SK Long San, one hour away from Long Lamam.
"In order to hire a Hilux (car), we have to pay RM300 per person to the driver for a trip to Miri.
"If my family of five have to travel to Miri it means we have to pay our transporter a total of RM1,500.
"For me to send my children to SK Long San, I have to pay RM100 per person. We, Penans, do not have any jobs that give us salaries.
"We plant rice, vegetable and fruits for our own daily food, and we sell any extra we have in Miri where the price is higher.
"However, the travel costs is a big burden to us," he said when interviewed.
Iyu wondered about the much-talked about government fuel-subsidy for rural transportation in Sarawak.
"Please help us to look into this problem," he said.
Mulu state assemblyman Datuk Gerawat Gala, when contacted, said he would look into the matter.
"Thank you for alerting me on the latest situation. I will definitely look into this matter as transportation is a very crucial aspect of life for our rural communities," he said.
Gala is also Deputy Speaker in the Sarawak State Assembly.
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