KUDAT: In order to obtain a single signature or register a birth certificate, residents of Pulau Banggi have to “battle” the waves, endure long land journeys and sometimes get stranded due to floods.
The harsh reality serves as a strong basis for why this largest island in Malaysia deserves to be upgraded from a minor district to a full district, in order to expedite the delivery of public services and lighten the burden on its approximately 30,000 residents.
Pulau Banggi Assistant District Officer Jaslee Jaafar said the measure is very critical considering the island’s geographical position, which is completely isolated from the mainland, yet has 52 registered villages that require efficient administrative attention.
He said currently, many important matters, including the registration of identity documents, boat licences, welfare assistance, education and disaster management, still need to be resolved at government offices in Kudat.
Located about 70km from the mainland of Kudat or 275km from Kota Kinabalu, Pulau Banggi, which has an area of 621 square kilometres, can only be accessed by ferry or speedboat, highly dependent on weather conditions.
Jaslee said if Pulau Banggi is upgraded, key agencies such as the National Registration Department (JPN), the Water Department, the Public Works Department (JKR), the Fisheries Department and the welfare office could operate permanently on the island without needing to be referred to Kudat anymore.
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“We can see for ourselves, villagers from Dogoton, for example, are forced to rent a vehicle to the town of Karakit at a cost of RM30 one way or RM60 for a round trip just to get one signature.
“If the matter involves documents such as a birth certificate or a child’s identity card, the cost is higher because parents and children need to make the trip together.
From Dogoton to Karakit alone the cost is RM120, not including the ferry fare to Kudat which is about RM31 per person,” he said.
It would be more difficult for them if the matter cannot be resolved, then they have to stay overnight, which incurs accommodation, food and other expenses.
He said full district status is also important for expediting emergency actions during disasters such as droughts or water supply disruptions because decisions and allocations no longer need to wait for approval from the mainland.
Jaslee said the physical development being carried out on Pulau Banggi needs to go alongside with the strengthening of administration, so that the facilities provided can truly be fully utilised by the people.
Meanwhile, Kampung Maliyu resident Neulin Jamaldin, 43, said the absence of a document management centre on the island often delays the registration of newborns, especially when land routes are cut off due to floods.
Neulin, who works as a welder in Kampung Maliyu, said he had faced difficulties when his dealings with the JPN were delayed several times due to road connectivity issues and financial constraints.
“Sometimes it gets delayed up to five times. Every time we go to JPN, the matter gets delayed. Sometimes JPN even asks why this happens, so we tell them the bridge is cut off during the flood season,” he said.
He said that every time they go out for errands, the round-trip travel cost can exceed RM50, and this amount becomes a burden for the villagers, most of whom rely on uncertain daily incomes.
“Here, on average, people are not well-off. Some are farmers, and the income from farming is not like in the city. Sometimes in a day you get RM5, at most RM10,” he added.
For Neulin and thousands of other residents, the upgrading of Pulau Banggi to a full district is not just a change in status, but a lifeline that will free them from the shackles of cost and distance that have long constrained their lives.
