Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing
SIBU: The Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumers Affairs’ move to consider cutting the rural subsidy system in Sarawak for the transportation of essential goods is a cause for concern.
In a press statement received here yesterday, Bintulu MP Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing, said the move would affect the rural community, as they would have to pay higher prices for their purchases.
He said he was disappointed that its deputy minister Chong Chieng Jen had suggested this implementation in Sarawak.
He questioned whether it was due to his inability to solve the subsidy leakage that he had resorted to this; thus sacrificing the well-being of the rural community.
He said Chong had failed to explain how this subsidy problem had come about, and whether it was because the rural transport subsidy had been abused.
Tiong said he would stand by his concern for the rural folk, and his conscience was clear when he hit out on how this rural subsidy scheme had been abused.
He said the ministry would have to review the subsidy system in the coming national budget; how it had been abused and how the government would come up with solutions to lighten the burden of the rural community.
Tiong said he had already made such allegation on the suspected collusion between the traders and government officers in the previous parliamentary term.
“Chong not aware of it? Now that he is in the government, is he trying to cover up for his inability to solve the problem?” he questioned.
Tiong said with the government subsidy, essential items would be directly transported to the (rural) villages so as not to affect the livelihood of the rural folk.
He said Chong had also talked about setting up more rural points of sale. “But, doesn’t this establishment also face high transport expenses problem?”
He said when Chong was in the opposition, he was good at attacking the government. But now that he is in the government, he has not been able to discharge his ministerial duties efficiently.
“Chong should know that the problem of collusion and abuse occurred right under the nose of his ministry. If he wants to weed out the problem, start with his ministry.
“Instead, he is now pointing an accusing finger at others,” said Tiong.