Lee Khoi Yun
LIMBANG: Brunei’s move to charge BN$3 (RM9.22) on people who pass through its land control posts from Aug 1, will have economic repercussions on Miri and Limbang divisions, a business group said.
Miri Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry chairman Lee Khoi Yun said the new ruling would discourage people from travelling within the two divisions and Brunei, which means less business for the people.
“With less people especially Bruneians coming in and out of Miri City, the business community here will have less income.
“Already businesses are suffering since the Movement Control Order (MCO) was enforced on March 18. Many of our members including I myself are experiencing reduced business volume by more than 50 per cent.
“The new ruling will worsen the situation,” said Lee when contacted yesterday.
He hoped the governments of Malaysia and Brunei would look into the impact on the people and find solutions to revive the economy.
Lee, however, said he appreciated Brunei’s efforts to combat Covid-19, and hoped the general population would play their part to rid the pandemic and revive the economy.
Brunei’s Finance and Economy Ministry in a statement on Thursday (July 9) said the main objective of charging BN$3 (RM9.22) for ‘Caj Perkhidmatan’ (CaP) under the Exit and Entry Charges Order, 2020, was to standardise the payments or charges with that imposed on the people leaving or entering Brunei via air and sea.
It added that with the enforcement of the Order, toll charges at Rasau Bridge in Belait District would be eliminated.
Meanwhile, Limbang folk, who are geographically sandwiched by Brunei, claim they would be hard hit by Brunei’s new policy.
Civil servant Shamsul Khairee said the new ruling would be an added burden for civil servants who have to commute daily for work either in Limbang or Lawas.
“My calculation is that each civil servant will have to pay RM800 a month for commuting to Lawas or Limbang to work, if we have to pay BN$3 whenever we pass through Brunei’s land control posts,” he said.
Limbang folk who want to go to Lawas have to go through two Brunei Immigration posts – Ujung Jalan Temburong Immigration Border Post and Labu Temburong Temporary Immigration Post.
As they would be charged each time they pass through the border posts, they would have to fork out around RM40 a day just for their daily work commute.
Shamsul urged the government, especially the Sarawak government, to look into their plight and consider exempting civil servants who have to commute daily.
He said as of yesterday afternoon, he gathered at least 60 names of civil servants commuting daily to work either to Lawas or Limbang.
Shamsul also urged the government to expedite the construction of alternative roads connecting Lawas and Limbang districts to Miri bypassing Brunei.
Community leader and businessman, Penghulu Chua Beng Soon, said the people of Limbang had no choice but to abide by the laws of Brunei.
“This new charge will definitely affect the lives of Sarawakians, especially those in northern Sarawak.
“Everyone in Limbang and Miri divisions will be affected directly or indirectly by the new ruling as business and economic activities will be further slowed down,” he said.