Set up village cooperatives to resolve high transportation costs — Siambun

KOTA KINABALU: Moyog assemblyman Terrence Siambun had proposed for the village cooperative establishment at Moyog to be revived to cater the high cost of transportation in that constituency.

“Based on feedback I received from villagers through Warisan’s H2HW (house to house walkabouts) and ceramahs held at Moyog, there is an urgent need for a reliable and cheap method of transportation to cater to the needs of low income earners, farmers, school-children and old folks,” he said.

Siambun, who is Parti Warisan Sabah treasurer, feels that it is burdensome for many of the low income earners like those at Upper Moyog to fork out RM5 everyday as transportation fare so that their children can study at SM St Michael’s Penampang, SMK Limbanak, SMK Datuk Peter Mojuntin or SMK Bahang.

Some farmers, who worked hard to grow vegetables and cash crops, are also unable to maximize the profits from their produce because the transportation cost to carry their produce to Donggongon is high, he lamented.

If the price of fuel remains unstable and prices of goods continue to escalate, we could then see the effect on the transportation costs, he added.

Siambun said that one of the suggestions put forth by some villagers is for the establishment of village cooperatives at areas that require transportation.

“What the State Government can do is to assist the villagers set up village cooperatives in their respective villages. The government can then assist to procure and deliver a bus (for schoolchildren) and a truck (for farmers) to each of these cooperatives who would be tasked with the responsibility to maintain these vehicles and ensure that it is always in good condition.

“The cooperatives can then proceed with the monthly repayment of these vehicles to the State Government through fares collected and other means of receivable income.

“But, of course, there has to be strict monitoring on these cooperatives and inspection can be done quarterly,” he suggested.

“And if any cooperative that fails to service the repayment or ensure the vehicles are in good condition, then the State Government can repossess the vehicles and give it to other cooperatives in other districts,” said Siambun.

He added that he had brought up the idea of setting up the cooperative at recent gathering held at Kampung Moyog and the idea was basically accepted by the villagers.

“But I would like to stress here that this proposal of setting up the cooperative must not in any way affect the livelihood of the existing ‘pawongs’ (transport vendors) who have been providing a lifeline to the villagers all these years.

‘My immediate concern is on the low income earners and farmers who find it difficult to pay the transportation costs for their children or their goods,” he said.

Siambun also wants the State Government to immediately address the transportation issue faced by students at Paitan-Beluran, Sonsogon Magandai-Kota Belud and Pensiangan-Keningau.

“I am shocked to read an article in Catholic Sabah on the tremendous hard work by the Franciscan Sisters of Immaculate Conception (FSIC) to ensure children at these remote areas receive basic education through the setting up of kindergartens in these areas.

“Yes, while our education system is free, schooling has not become a priority over there simply because the villagers cannot afford to pay the transportation costs,” he said.

According to Siambun, it has been through the self less act of Sister Dorothy and Sister Hillary Laudi from the FSIC that the Kadazandusun Murut (KDM) children in the rural areas are receiving basic pre-school education.

But that is only how far they can go because primary and secondary schools are within the purview of the government.

Siambun said he will continue relentless efforts to try to resolve the predicament faced by Sabahan children in the Interior through whatever means at his disposal.

“This is no longer a political matter but a noble mission to ensure that all Sabahan children in the Interior will receive proper education from kindergarten right up to college and university level,” he said.