Diesel subsidy issue: Rural Sarawak residents travel up to 150km daily compared to 50km in West Malaysia

(File photo) A gravel road in rural Sarawak, reflecting the challenging road conditions faced by communities who travel long distances for basic services.

By DayakDaily Team

KUCHING, June 28: Rural residents in Sabah and Sarawak travel up to 80km to 150km daily for essential services such as schools, clinics, hospitals and government offices, compared to just 20km to 50km for most workers in Peninsular Malaysia, says political secretary to the Minister of National Unity, Dr Stephen William.

In a Facebook post, the Kanowit-born leader said the disparity highlights the need for a more geographically sensitive approach in national diesel subsidy reforms.

He said most workers in Peninsular Malaysia commute relatively short distances between home and workplace, supported by extensive public transport systems such as MRT, LRT, ETS and city buses.

“In contrast, in Sabah and Sarawak, particularly in rural areas, many residents have to travel between 80km and 150km daily just to access schools, clinics, hospitals, government offices, banks and markets,” he said.

Stephen said this includes farmers travelling from villages such as Kanowit to town centres, smallholders in Julau heading to markets, and rural residents in Kapit and Belaga making long trips to access essential services.

He said for many rural communities, roads often involve logging routes, plantation tracks, gravel roads and partially paved stretches, resulting in higher fuel consumption and vehicle wear and tear.

“For a pepper farmer in Julau, an oil palm grower in Kanowit, a rubber tapper in Kapit or a small trader in Belaga, a diesel vehicle is not just transport — it is their main tool for earning a living,” he said.

Stephen further said diesel dependency in Sabah and Sarawak is therefore not a lifestyle choice but a necessity driven by geography and infrastructure constraints.

He warned that any increase in diesel prices would have a cascading effect, raising transportation costs and ultimately pushing up the prices of food, construction materials and essential goods in rural areas.

“The impact will eventually be borne by consumers, particularly those from low- and middle-income groups,” he said.

He urged policymakers to consider geographical realities, road conditions and economic dependence on diesel when designing subsidy mechanisms, rather than relying solely on vehicle categories. — DayakDaily