GST and cost of electricity main causes of concern for Sungai Besar residents

SUNGAI BESAR: Its just four days away to nomination for the Sungai Besar Parliamentary seat by-election and the voters have set their mind to asking the ruling government to do away with the GST as its implementation has led to their cost of living rising with the price of goods becoming costlier.
The by-election is due to the untimely death of its MP Datuk Noriah Kasnon in a helicopter crash in Sarawak on May 5.
Misnah Salleh, 73, who has been residing here for 57 years said that the constituents main concerns are the GST and the rising cost of living including the electricity tariffs in her village.
"We are finding it difficult to make ends meet with the GST, things are costlier than before," she bemoaned.
She said her electricity bill had almost doubled in the past year although her usage had been the same.
This, she said, was a common complaint among the people in her village.
"We are just asking for these few things. Other than that, we are happy with the current party (BN) and we want to see them retain this seat," said Misnah.
"The BN flag will go up if the cost of these things goes down. We will still vote BN," she said adding that the loss of Noriah was devastating for the people there.
"She was a caring person who always came to Sungai Besar to check on her people," she added.
MIC chairman for Sungai Besar, S. Sritharan, 55, said that the Indian vote, which makes up about two percent of the key demographic of voters, wants the government to help out the community instead of pushing them to the side.
He said the government should help businesses which are suffering due to the GST, provide adequate school transport facilities for school going children and not sideline the Indian community in the area as although they are a minority, they could tip the scales for the BN party.
"The last time, the former MP (Noriah) only won the seat by 399 votes, the Indian community here make up for 800 plus votes. The margin is very small, and the voters, no matter how small, are important. Even if it's one vote," he said.
Ms Tan, the owner of a hardware shop wants equality for all races so that the future generation can live a better life.