KUCHING: State assemblymen will now receive an increased allowance of RM450 daily for attending the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting.
This a hefty increase by RM400 from the previous RM50 allowance.
Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg hoped the increase would boost the assemblymen’s morale, motivating them to work harder and enhance Sarawak’s economy.
“Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas had announced there is an increase in the state revenue earlier during his ministerial winding-up speech.
“I checked with Speaker Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar and he said the seating allowance, is RM50 a day, while MPs receive RM400.
“So, we are increasing it to RM450. We have 16 days across two sessions, which I believe is fair. This totals to around half a million, which is reasonable considering our increased revenue,” he said.
He was speaking during the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) Backbenchers Night at Pullman Hotel here last night (May 15).
For the record, this revision marks the first increase in 44 years, and the current rate of the sitting allowance at RM50 per day was imposed in 1980.
Meanwhile, on the increase in salaries for Sarawak civil servants, Abang Johari said it is subject to the revision by the federal government.
He said the 13 per cent increase will need further details on whether the salary revision will include both the lower and higher brackets.
Abang Johari hinted that the state salary revision would likely surpass the federal government offers, pending the final details.
“The federal government has not provided the final details. They mentioned a 13 per cent increase across the board, but we are waiting for the specifics to align our salary revision with the federal guidelines.
“I have instructed the State Secretary that our package will be slightly more favourable than what the federal government offers to civil servants in Sarawak,” he added.
On a separate note, he stressed that while the Sarawak government operates within the context of a ‘super majority’, it does not imply unchecked power.
“We have internal democratic processes and mechanisms for checks and balances within our system. Therefore, the issue of super majority does not arise because we are open.
“We look forward also for certain observations given by our backbenchers so that the government is on track. Regardless, we are confident that we are indeed on the right path,” he said.
Also present was Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian.
