MP: Scrapping of hill paddy subsidy hurts rural folk

KAPIT: A parliamentarian here is upset over the scrapping of the hill paddy subsidy in the federal 2019 Budget.

Hulu Rajang MP Datuk Wilson Ugak Kumbong believes that the absence of this subsidy would adversely affect the rural folk, many of whom are still practising hill paddy cultivation.

“We are still undergoing the Parliament sitting on 2019 Budget. A lot of us from Sarawak – we are unhappy over the scrapping of the hill paddy fertiliser subsidy and many other things that we, the people in rural constituencies, would not benefit from.

“For the rural folk, especially the farmers, this would adversely affect their livelihood. Instead of helping the rural people, it is the other way around,” said Ugak when met after the presentation of minor rural project ( MRP) allocations to 41 longhouses and local associations at Bukit Mabong District Office in Bletih Complex here on Saturday.

Adding on, Ugak said before the 14th general election (GE14), the Pakatan Harapan coalition made a lot of promises, but after taking helm of the federal government, it had yet to fulfil them.

“In Kuala Lumpur, they provide the RM100 transport subsidy for train usage and also fuel subsidy for vehicles below 1,500cc. For us in Kapit where we don’t even have proper roads, many folk depend on water transportation, like longboats and engine boats — too bad, there’s no subsidy on fuel for our boat-users.

“As such, this leaves us no choice but to use 4 X4 (four-wheel drive vehicles). Still, the present government has ignored us,” he lamented.

Ugak said the previous government never failed to discuss with Sarawak on the federal budget.

“In 2019 Budget, the peninsula gets RM271 billion, Sabah gets RM5 billion and Sarawak, RM4 billion. Sarawak’s land size is almost as big as the peninsula, but we’re allocated with the least (amount).

“Hulu Rajang alone covers 31,000 square kilometres, and includes Baleh, Belaga, Murum and Tubau.

“There are 560 longhouses in Hulu Rajang – many projects have been affected. Indeed, I am very unhappy,” said the MP.

Meanwhile, the MRP totalling RM394,000 was distributed to 41 longhouses and local associations from all across Baleh, which is one of the state constituencies under Hulu Rajang parliamentary area.