KUCHING: Various state leaders have expressed their wholehearted support for the contributions towards the State Disaster Fund.
Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah described this initiative as a reflection of a caring state government and its leaders.
“Hopefully, the two months’ salary deduction and contribution to the State Disaster Fund can help address in a small way the difficulties that the public are facing now,” he said today.
Utilities Minister Datuk Seri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom said he fully supported the measure as well.
“I fully support that all fixed salary earners, whether from the public or private sectors, must contribute except the frontliners, as all Malaysians must do our part in combating this Covid-19 pandemic,” he said.
Meanwhile, Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department (Islamic Affairs and DBKU) Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi said the contribution to the State Disaster Fund was a symbol of the state government’s commitment in helping the people.
“It is also an effort to ensure that every community affected by the Covid-19 pandemic can be helped through the contribution.
“The initiative proves that the Sarawak government is very concerned in taking care of the welfare of the people of Sarawak in various aspects,” he said.
He pointed out that the Covid-19 situation was still a daily concern and all affected communities were in dire need of immediate help in order to survive.
“We hope that the people will continue to adhere to the standard operating procedure (SOP) set by the government to break the Covid-19 chain,” said Dr Abdul Rahman.
Earlier, the Chief Minister’s Office in a statement announced that two months’ worth of salary from Sarawak Cabinet ministers and allowances from GPS assemblypersons and political secretaries would be contributed to the State Disaster Fund.
Sarawak civil servants, excluding frontliners directly involved in the control of the Covid-19 pandemic, will also contribute a certain amount of their fixed entertainment allowance (ITK) in July and August to the fund.
