KUCHING: Teachers in Sarawak are entitled to receive the Interior Incentive Payment (Bantuan Insentif Pendalaman or BIP) for as long as they meet the set criteria and requirements.
Sarawak education director Datuk Dr Azhar Ahmad said teachers, who serve in schools entitled to receive the special allowance, are eligible for the incentive.
“The review process on the recipient’s eligibility to receive the incentive was previously carried out at the Ministry of Education (MoE) level, but now the authority has been delegated to the Sarawak State Education Department (JPNS).
“The eligibility of the recipients covering the school category of Interior 1 (Pendalaman 1 or P1), P2, and P3 will be done every two years. So for this year, a new review will be made,” he said.
He said this in a press conference after the presentation of assistance to pupils and their families affected by Covid-19 at SMK Batu Kawa on Saturday (Jan 28).
When asked if the revision of the incentive will reduce the number of recipients, Azhar said it depends on the current situation, criteria, as well as requirements set by the ministry.
Earlier, Sarawak Bumiputera Teachers Union (KGBS) president Zulkiflee Sebli had expressed hope that the MoE would not withdraw the BIP for recipients of the P1 category.
He said the relevant parties need to re-examine the most appropriate mechanism in relation to its implementation, including not withdrawing the special allowances that have been received by Education Service Officers (PPP) and Implementation Group Members (AKP) of MoE.
The incentive is paid to permanent, contract, part-time, interim and temporary PPP, and MoE AKP who serve in interior schools according to a monthly rate of RM500 (P1), RM1,000 (P2), and RM1,500 (P3).
Earlier, Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek also paid an official visit to SMK Batu Kawa.
She announced an allocation of RM150,000 for the school which will go towards its maintenance.
The event also saw the presentation of assistance in the form of cash to 30 students from primary and schools in Kuching, Samarahan, and Padawan areas who were affected by Covid-19.
The donation was contributed by a Malaysian dairy company, Farm Fresh, as part of its corporate social responsibility.
