SIBU: Lorry cargo transport charges in Sarawak will be hiked by 15 to 25 per cent if the Sibu Lorry Association pushes through its proposal in their statewide meeting in Bintangor next month.
The association chairman Ling Kee Chuong said at its 32nd annual general meeting yesterday they were compiling the proposal now and would submit it to the statewide meeting for discussion.
He said the association had no other alternative but to propose the hike in charges in face of the country’s inflation that was hitting its members badly.
“Prices of most items have gone up drastically. The costs of tyres, batteries, parts, repair and maintenance are now higher. Even buying a lorry is so much more expensive.”
Ling said petrol price had also gone up, but compared with the price hike of other items and services, it was manageable.
Association secretary Kapitan Kong Hien King said a lorry now would cost at least RM50,000 or more, but their transport charges had remained unchanged.
“This has affected our livelihood,” he told the meeting.
On an unrelated matter in the meeting yesterday at a leading restaurant, Ling said they were now applying for the parcel of land that they had been using as their base at Tapang Road in Sungei Antu.
He said Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr Wong Soon Kai had made available the land from the state government for their use in 1995.
“Sixteen years have passed and we are still using this land belonging to the government.
“We have built various infra-structures here and we want the government to let us own the land for the lorry drivers in Sibu.”
Ling recalled how difficult it was when they did not have a base.
“We were being chased around because they had parking problems in town.”
He said the land application was in progress now, and he thanked Second Finance minister Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh and the late Datuk Robert Lau for being always ready to help them.
“We need a permanent home. There are more than 200 lorry driver members and others who are not members.”
To ensure they were able to have the land for their association, Ling said they needed to amend a part of their constitution for property ownership.
“Our constitution only states on taking care for our members’ welfare but not on property ownership.”
About 40 members who turned up at the AGM yesterday agreed unanimously to amend Item No.3 of their constitution of not only to own land but also give the committee the right to buy properties and public shares.
They also consented to the committee in seeking public donations for the purpose.
The AGM also amended another part of their constitution to allow the committee to have an extra deputy chairman and vice chairman.
They also adjusted the annual membership fee from RM50 to RM60.
For members parking their lorries at their base overnight, the association will charge members RM10 monthly.
Ling said earth filling was in progress, after which they would have a larger parking ground from 70 parking lots to 100.