SIBU: Community leaders in the state can expect some good news soon on the much anticipated revision of their allowance.
Social Development Minister Tan Sri William Mawan revealed yesterday that the government was looking into the matter, and gave an assurance that what had been promised would be
fulfilled.
“I am of the opinion that the government will fulfill this (revision of allowance) at an appropriate time. There are so many programmes going on and priority is being given to what benefits the majority of the people, such as 1Malaysia People’s Aid (BR1M).
“Maybe after this, they will look into the allowance of community leaders. I think this is a very deserving case. The government will pay out what they can afford, and I believe they are looking into this.
“It has been announced, and what has been announced, the government will fulfill at an appropriate time,” Mawan told reporters after a brief ceremony to hand over a cheque to Sibu Rural District Council (SRDC) Club at a restaurant here.
Among those present were political secretary to the Chief Minister Peter Howell, SRDC chairman James Laju Ambok and SPDP Bukit Assek division chairman councillor Tiong Yong Hing.
The government, Mawan said, were aware of the responsibilities shouldered by community leaders such as longhouse chiefs, thus necessitating a revision of their allowance.
Mawan said this when asked to comment on calls from longhouse chiefs to have their monthly allowance revised since their counterparts in the peninsula had already enjoyed the benefit.
Interviewed earlier, Association of Longhouse Chiefs Sibu (PTRS) chairman councillor Linus Melin Lembang said that the timely revision of allowance would commensurate with the higher cost of living and bigger responsibilities heaped on the shoulders of longhouse chiefs these days.
Linus bemoaned that it was no longer feasible to live on a RM450 monthly allowance, disclosing that many of their members had asked when their allowance would be revised.
“Longhouse chiefs or ‘Tuai Rumah’ (TRs) form the bridge between the people and the government, helping in the dissemination of information to the people. Currently, they are still drawing a monthly allowance of RM450.
“Therefore, the timely revision of the allowance would motivate them to work harder in serving the people as they need not worry about their finances.
“You see, some TRs depend on the allowance as they do not have other sources of income. Given that the cost of living in general has gone up, we hope the
revision of allowance could be expedited to lessen their burden,” Linus, who is also a longhouse chief, said.