The expensive postage charges have been the constant complaints received by the Sabah DAP offices and the Semananjong counter part. 

A question was raised by the DAP MP for Bakri Er Teck Hwa during the last Parliament session on why the postage charges had increase by more then double and near three times in Sabah and Sarawak. In Semananjong, it is an increase from the original RM0.30 to RM0.60 and in Sabah it is RM0.30 to RM0.80 starting on July 2010.

沙巴民主行动党亚庇国会议员办事处收到许多有关邮费大幅度暴增的投诉。  

在国会中，民主行动党国会议员询问有关邮费为何起价至一百巴仙在西马，及更高的邮费在沙巴和砂捞越州。  从七月一日开始，西马邮费从原本的马币三十仙增加至马币六十仙，而在沙巴州则是马币三十仙增加至马币八十仙。

The Minister of Information, Communication and Culture replied that the previous postage rates were used since 1992 which is too low and has affected POS Malaysia when the international system of ‘Terminal Dues’ was implemented in 2010 in the whole world. This has created big negative impact to Malaysia in handling the international mails with relation and subjected to the foreign exchange rates which affect the cost of postage, and the subsidy given on oversea mails.

Under the new Terminal Dues system, POS Malaysia has to shoulder the high cost of operation in handling the oversea mail. At the same time, POS Malaysia is receiving payment far lower with the local mail compared with other countries.

The restructuring of the postal service rates will help POS Malaysia to cope with the cost of operation and uplifting of its service. This rate increase will not affect the people because the people can still use the domestic aerogram (Mel Rakyat) which is launched on the 22^nd April, 2010.

Dr. Hiew views the explanation didn’t answer the complaints of the people especially those in Sabah and Sarawak. The extremely high increase did not justify by the explanation provided by the minister. Why we have to pay RM0.80 postage for a local mail, claimed one person from Damai, Luyang? The post office is becoming a business company and no longer a public service. Where is the subsidy for the postal service enjoyed by everyone?

Even though they have to increase the rates, it should not be that high and at one go? May be it is because the postal service is under privatization now, and any increase in the rates means extra profit to the company. In this case the people who use the post service will have no say but just have to pay more.

Therefore, Sabah DAP urges the POS Malaysia to reconsider adjust the rates, and to lower the rates for the postage in Sabah and Sarawak to be the same as Semananjong and not more. The BN’s “1-Malaysia” concept will definitely remains as talk only and cannot stand up the way they wanted it to be, where got 1-Malaysia? 

Dr. Hiew King Cheu  

Pic 1 is from Damai mail to Foh Sang and Pic 2 is from Selangor mail to Kota Kinabalu

昂贵的邮费

沙巴民主行动党亚庇国会议员办事处收到许多有关邮费大幅度暴增的投诉。

在国会中，民主行动党国会议员询问有关邮费为何起价至一百巴仙在西马，及更高的邮费在沙巴和砂捞越州。  从七月一日开始，西马邮费从原本的马币三十仙增加至马币六十仙，而在沙巴州则是马币三十仙增加至马币八十仙。

新闻、通讯与文化部回答说，自1992年邮票的收费一直以来是很低，已经影响到马来西亚的邮寄系统，尤其是在2010年实行全世界使用的‘国际终站费’。 这对马来西亚造成了很大的负面影响，尤其是在处理国际邮件，由于受到外汇的汇率影响了邮寄成本，导致必须补贴海外邮件的运费。

根据新的终站费系统，马来西亚邮政局须承担昂贵的海外邮件运送高成本。同时，马来西亚邮政局的本地邮件收费也远远低于其他国家，造成一项不平衡的局面。

邮政服务费的调整将有助于马来西亚邮政局，以应付运作开销及提高服务素质。 此外邮费起价是不会有很大的影响，因为市民仍然可以用今年四月二十二日推出的国内航空邮寄方式（Mel Rakyat）的服务。

邱庆洲博士认为部长的解释并没有正面回答市民的投诉，尤其是对沙巴和砂捞越洲。部长所作的解释的理由并没有真正的解释该项邮费暴增的主因。  来自路阳达迈的居民责问说，为什么本地邮件的邮费需支付马币六十仙？ 如今邮政局已经由私营化公司控制，已不是政府部门。 人们应享有廉价邮政服务到底去了那里，现在是一项生意来论。

即使他们要的加邮费，但是不应该一口气起到那么高？ 可能是因为邮政服务已经是私营化，为了增加盈利，该公司可随时增加邮费来达到目的。 在这种情况下使用邮政服务的市民只好要付出更多的邮费。

民主行动党敦促马来西亚邮政局重新检讨邮费，并且降低沙巴和砂捞越州的邮费，必须要与西马相同而不是更高。 国阵政府所谓的‘一个马来西亚’的概念只是说白话而已，根本不能达致他们所说的。

图1 示从达迈邮寄到和生园，图2示从雪州邮寄到亚庇