SIBU: The Sarawak government should investigate the steep price increase in essential goods sold in rural areas despite an annual allocation of RM100mil a year in subsidised transportation costs, says Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing (pic).

       The Bintulu MP said as a result, rural folks have had to pay dearly for essential goods such as rice, cooking oil, sugar and flour.

       "I went to longhouses in the rural area on April 27. Most residents complained that prices of essential items are continuously going up and are now two to three times more expensive than those sold in the town area.

       “It has badly affected them especially when they are still trying to get their life to normal due to the pandemic," Tiong said in a Facebook post Thursday (April 28).

       The five-term MP said incidents of subsidies and related provisions not reaching or not benefiting the people as a whole were nothing new as it had been happening since he was elected.

       "Have the authorities carried out strict surveillance? The Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry must give a reasonable explanation. If there is none, then the head of its Bintulu branch must take full responsibility and resign," Tiong said.

       He also called on the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter.