KUCHING: Sarawak Patriots Association chairman Datuk Dr Lau Pang Heng calls upon the authorities to consider the livelihood of the people due to increasing consumer prices and find a way to subsidise shipping costs.
He said transporters felt that to remain sustainable and profitable, they needed to increase the flight charges. “Transporters have urged the authorities to find a way to subsidise the price of diesel on a win-win basis.”
“Transporters are feeling the strain of the increasing flight charges from Port Klang to Kuching as well,” he said in a press statement on Friday (March 25).
Lau said to ship a 20-foot container from Port Klang to Kuching, the cost was RM3,112 in November 2021 but the cost in April 2022 would be RM4,356.
“It is an increase of about 40 per cent. For a 40-foot container, from Port Klang to Kuching, it is RM5,100 in November 2021 but the charges would be RM7,588 in April 2022. This is an increase of 48.7 per cent.”
He further explained that freight rates would have a profound impact on trade and undermine socioeconomic recovery, especially in developing countries, until maritime shipping operations return to normal.
“Returning to normal would entail investing in new solutions, including infrastructure, freight technology and digitalisation and trade facilitation measures.”
In the past week, he said a survey was conducted by his team, involving a total of 120 consumers and 10 transporters in Kuching.
“95 per cent of the consumers felt that the high consumer prices are already affecting their livelihood and their wellbeing.
“With increasing flight charges effective April 2022, these respondents felt that consumer prices will continue to increase while their income remain the same. These respondents are mainly income earners.”
He said though the January 2022 consumer price index was 124.9, this figure might not be representative as consumers felt that prices had increased between 10 to 25 per cent in the past weeks.
