Sabah reps ‘lowest paid’ and deserve pay raise, says Kitingan

 

Last week, the Sabah state assembly approved a bill to increase the remuneration of ministers and state assembly members. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: Sabah deputy chief minister Jeffrey Kitingan has defended the decision to increase the allowances paid to state assemblymen, saying they are currently among the lowest paid elected representatives in the country.

He said raising their income to RM11,130 from RM7,950 a month still meant that they get less compared to their Sarawakian counterparts, who get about RM15,000 a month.

“We’ve already been left behind. Pity our assemblymen, how can they function well with a RM7,000 salary? In Sarawak, they’re getting RM15,000, while we’re only getting half that amount.

“I’m thankful for the slight increase, which will only take about RM5.6 million in allocations (annually),” he said, according to Astro Awani.

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The Sabah legislative assembly last week approved a bill to increase the remuneration of the chief minister, state assemblymen and other members of the state administration.

The chief minister’s remuneration has been increased from RM23,595 to RM33,033 per month, while the new pay for deputy chief ministers will be RM29,221.50, up from RM20,872.50.

State ministers will receive RM22,869 (from RM16,335); Speaker RM22,869 (from RM16,335); assistant ministers RM17,787 (from RM12,705); deputy speakers RM17,787 (from RM12,705); and political secretaries RM7,623 (from RM5,445). - FMT