Thousands on brink of starvation in Sibu
Rural folk staying in Sibu town are unable to return to their longhouses due to the MCO. (Bernama pic)
SIBU: More than 1,000 people in Sibu district are in desperate need of food aid after having lost their jobs or income following the closure of their work sectors due to the enforcement of the movement control order (MCO) since Jan 16.
Sarawak Dayak National Union (SDNU) Sibu branch chairman Chambai Lindong said those affected were from rural areas working as general labourers, cooks and helpers at coffee shops, restaurants and bistros, helpers at hair salons, electricians and welders, lorry drivers and attendants, shop assistants, security guards and cleaners.
He said since Jan 26, they had submitted their names through the SDNU Sibu branch to apply for the food aid but many complained they had not received the “Sarawakku Sayang” food assistance.
“We have been receiving their requests for food aid via WhatsApp and to date, we have submitted more than 1,000 names to the Sibu disaster management committee (SDMC) via the Sìbu district Office to coordinate the distribution of the food baskets.
“And the names of those needing food aid still keep on coming to us,” he said in a statement, here, today.
Having no money to buy food for their families, Chambai said they needed food urgently and in some cases, their mood of desperation could be detected quite easily.
“We believe their situation is genuine. There are 11 more days of MCO 2.0 in Sìbu. Unless they receive food aid immediately, their situation will get worse. Their savings, if any is left, will dry up. And if that is the case, many people will starve,” he said.
The organisation is also concerned over the rural folk in Sìbu Jaya who are in a similar situation as many of them do not know what to do and where to go for help.
Chambai said the situation faced by those rural folk staying in Sìbu town was indeed worrying.
“Many of them wanted to go back to their respective longhouses but under the MCO, they were not allowed to do so.
“Their hope now lies with the Sibu disaster management committee. The earlier the food aid is given to them, the better,” he added.
Sarawak Dayak National Union (SDNU) Sibu branch chairman Chambai Lindong said those affected were from rural areas working as general labourers, cooks and helpers at coffee shops, restaurants and bistros, helpers at hair salons, electricians and welders, lorry drivers and attendants, shop assistants, security guards and cleaners.
He said since Jan 26, they had submitted their names through the SDNU Sibu branch to apply for the food aid but many complained they had not received the “Sarawakku Sayang” food assistance.
“We have been receiving their requests for food aid via WhatsApp and to date, we have submitted more than 1,000 names to the Sibu disaster management committee (SDMC) via the Sìbu district Office to coordinate the distribution of the food baskets.
“And the names of those needing food aid still keep on coming to us,” he said in a statement, here, today.
Having no money to buy food for their families, Chambai said they needed food urgently and in some cases, their mood of desperation could be detected quite easily.
“We believe their situation is genuine. There are 11 more days of MCO 2.0 in Sìbu. Unless they receive food aid immediately, their situation will get worse. Their savings, if any is left, will dry up. And if that is the case, many people will starve,” he said.
The organisation is also concerned over the rural folk in Sìbu Jaya who are in a similar situation as many of them do not know what to do and where to go for help.
Chambai said the situation faced by those rural folk staying in Sìbu town was indeed worrying.
“Many of them wanted to go back to their respective longhouses but under the MCO, they were not allowed to do so.
“Their hope now lies with the Sibu disaster management committee. The earlier the food aid is given to them, the better,” he added.
Sarawak baru dapat 2 billion dari Petronas, wang peegi mana? Siapa punya poket? Francis Paul Siah macam mana? Harapan punya pasal?
ReplyDeleteMovement for Change starts at HOME.
Not only that, Sarawak has made Billions of Ringgit over the years from its resources, especially Timber.
DeleteAll evaporated into politician and crony pockets.
That is why I always said the cry for Sarawak to get the Petronas money is another cynical exercise to line their pockets.
And where is Big Mouth Francis Paul Siah? Busy with national affairs while Sarawak burns.
The latest example of powerful ruling Sarawakians ripping off poor farmers, this time FELDA farmers.
DeleteIsa Samad has just been found guilty of corruption, a RM3 million bribe, he signed off a FELDA funded purchase of a Kuching Hotel for RM160 million – which is calculated to be double its actual worth.
So, who pocketed that RM80 million stolen from the pensions and shareholdings of FELDA workers? Well, that would be the shareholders and directors of the Merdeka Hotel Kuching would it not?
These happen to include Abang Abdillah Izzarim bin Abdul Rahman Zohari son of the chief minister of Sarawak, who clearly needed buttering up by the conspirators behind the deal.
He will doubtless say he had no idea that his bonanza windfall owed to theft, however among his fellow directors and shareholders are those who conspired to sign off the payments in return for bumping up the price.
The sellers of Merdeka Palace Hotel should be prosecuted also and each and every one forced to explain their conduct until those guilty parties are flushed out.
Meanwhile, and without question, Abdullah Izzarim should be required to return every penny of the profit he made to FELDA for what was at the very least a lousy job as a director in charge of making sure the company was honestly managed.
FPS apa you boleh buat?
i first thot i am reading news abt africa.
ReplyDeleteIn that fart filled well, all bad news r coming from outside the demoNcratic hive!
DeleteSo simple mah.
democracy is not magic, but authoritarian is definitely shit.
DeleteDemoNcracy hierarchies rate of death depended on how much money u have.
DeleteCCP 'authoritarianism' puts her people before all else!
So, who's shit r u spreading?