Senator Robert Lau.
SIBU (June 5): Senator Robert Lau will be contributing two months’ worth of his senator’s allowance in support of the State Disaster Fund.
“I am in support of this initiative by CM (Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg) and as a senator, I will likewise, follow by donating my allowance as Senator,” Lau told The Borneo Post when contacted yesterday.
As announced yesterday, Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg and the state Cabinet will have their salaries deducted over a period of seven months for the State Disaster Fund.
The chief minister will take a 30 per cent pay cut, deputy chief ministers (25 per cent), DUN Speaker and ministers (20 per cent), assistant ministers (15 per cent), DUN members (10 per cent), and political secretaries (five per cent). State civil servants will contribute too through deductions in entertainment allowance.
Meanwhile, Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department (Native Laws and Customs) Datuk John Sikie, supported the decision for salary deduction to a total of two months’ pay for the fund.
“It is fair since we are in a difficult situation now because of Covid-19 pandemic. We have to work together to support our government in the fight against Covid-19 for the wellbeing and the health of our people, especially in Sarawak here.”
The Kakus assemblyman pointed out that although the amount is not that much, he believed that such support would go a long way in fighting the pandemic and flattening the infection curve.