KUCHING, Aug 6: Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) information chief Datuk Idris Buang urged the Sarawak government to review upwards the remuneration and meeting allowances of all local councillors in Sarawak to not just match that of Penang’s, but better it.
He made the suggestion in view of the challenges and the responsibilities of the local councillors in Sarawak which he believed are more cumbersome
“I humbly suggest that it would be reasonable that our councillors be accorded between RM1,500 to RM3,000 per month depending on their respective municipality or city hall that they are serving. Of course their terms of reference must be particularised professionally to meet the present demand of the people,” according to Idris in a statement
He also opined the remark by Puncak Borneo MP Willie Mongin that the said monthly remuneration and allowances for local councillors in Sarawak was “a mere waste of public fund”, was not only heartless but insinuating.
Idris said that Willie has forgotten that even the local councillors in Selangor and Penang in which Pakatan Harapan (PH) has been holding power for so long are paid even more in the range of between RM1,000 to RM2,500.
“I believe what is done in Selangor and Penang gives quite the right picture of what the councillors’ responsibilities and duty really reflect, which undoubtedly have become more onerous and challenging.
“A meagre RM300 per councillor per month in Sarawak is just a mere token. It does not reflect the true worth of the time and energy and what councillors give in their services to the citizenry and their local municipality,” he further opined
“YB Willie, ‘you are regressing not progressing. I believe that is what PH Sarawak is all about’,” Idris said. — DayakDaily
