Sarawak :Transit fee issue brought to ministry’s attention

The issue of high transit fee imposed by Brunei Customs Department on goods ferried from Sarawak to Limbang through the Brunei border has been forwarded to the Transport Ministry for further action.

Limbang MP Hasbi Habibollah said yesterday the matter has been brought to the attention of the ministry during the Malaysia-Indonesia (Malindo) meeting in Manado last June.

“So far we have not received any feedback on the matter, but we are still hoping that our neighbour (Brunei) can do something to reduce the transit fee on the ground of ‘Asean spirit’,” he said when contacted by The Borneo Post yesterday.

Hasbi, who is Sarawak Commercial Vehicles Licensing Board chairman, said as the representative of the people of Limbang, he was concerned about the matter and hoped traders in Limbang would not take the opportunity to mark up the prices of their goods.

He was commenting on an appeal by Miri Lorry Owners Association for the federal government to step in and discuss the matter with Brunei government and find solution to the problem.

Its chairman Goh Ah Foo said their lorries were being charged by the Brunei Customs B$100 (RM242) for ferrying controlled items and B$25 (RM60) for ferrying general items since last April.

He added they had no other choice, but to transfer the cost to traders who
later resorted to marking up the prices of goods in Limbang.

The situation is forcing Limbang folks to pay higher for their daily essentials compared to other towns or cities in the state.