TONGOD, Sabah: Some recipients of the 1Malaysia People’s Aid (BR1M) in the district are forced to travel long distances to get the aid because they stay far in the interior.
Among them was Tajimon Mustapah, 35, from Kampung Kenang-Kenangan Karamuak who had to travel for two hours on a muddy highway.
Since his village is far away from Dewan Pekan Tongod, where the BR1M was given out, Tajimon left the house at 5am for Pekan Tongod by getting a lift on a four-wheel drive vehicle for a RM30 fare.
“BR1M is very meaningful to me because I will use it to buy goods for my six children and the house,” he said when met by Bernama after a ceremony to hand over BR1M for the Kuamut State Constituency, here, yesterday.
A total of 711 people received the aid from Kuamut state assemblyman Mansiung Bannah under Phase 1.
In the meantime, Mansiung said the disbursement of BR1M for the second phase for those staying far in the interior, would be done in the villages. He said he had asked the Tongod District Office, Bank Simpanan Nasional and the army to deliver to the recipients staying deep in the district.
“I don’t want BR1M recipients who stay in distant villages to be forced to spend a lot of money and to travel long distances to get the aid,” he said. — Bernama