KUCHING, Aug 2: The Emergency (Essential Powers) (Sarawak) Ordinance 2021 clearly provides for the remuneration and or salaries of elected representatives in Sarawak during the extended Emergency in the State.
Law, State-Federal Relations and Project Monitoring Assistant Minister Datuk Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali said, therefore, the question of ‘whether elected representatives should not be paid remuneration throughout the extended Emergency period in Sarawak’ is clearly a non-issue.
“Clause 5 of the Ordinance states that ‘For so long as the emergency is in force, members of the Dewan Undangan Negeri shall until the date of dissolution be entitled to remuneration and any other allowances and benefits payable to them under any written law’.” she said in a statement today.
She also said that the executive power of the State is provided for in Clause 6 of the same Ordinance whereby it states that ‘For so long as the emergency is in force, the Chief Minister and the Majlis Mesyuarat Kerajaan Negeri Sarawak (State Cabinet) existing immediately prior to the issuance of the Proclamation of Emergency (Sarawak) on 29 July 2021 who have been conferred the executive authority shall continue to exercise the executive authority of the State of Sarawak and such other persons who have been conferred the executive functions by law shall continue to exercise such functions’.
“Meanwhile, Clause 6(2) states that ‘For so long as the emergency is in force, the Chief Minister and Majlis Mesyuarat Kerajaan Negeri Sarawak existing are entitled to remuneration and any allowances and other benefits payable to them under any written law’.
“This Emergency Ordinance which is approved and consented by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong clearly provides for the remuneration and or salaries of Aduns (elected representatives) in Sarawak during the extended Emergency period,” she added. – DayakDaily
