KUCHING, June 7: Parti Bumi Kenyalang (PBK) has urged the Sarawak government to focus on highly paid groups and exclude the low income public servants from the pay cut aimed at channeling funds towards the State Covid-19 Disaster Fund.
The party’s potential candidate for Kota Sentosa, Lue Cheng Hing, said although the pay cut proposal was a good gesture, public servants in the low income bracket should be exempted.
“Instead, the State government should focus on the top group of the higher salary earning bracket, who could easily make up the 70 to 80 per cent of the total RM3 million worth of pay cut.
“Allowances and perks such as travelling, entertainment, communication, and all other forms of allowances should be saved from these groups and added to the Disaster Fund. Because during the Movement Control Order (MCO) period, these groups are not able to spend on those expenses,” he said in a statement today.
While he welcomed Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg’s proposal as a good gesture, Lue questioned the argument that the State cabinet ministers and elected representatives should be entitled to salary and allowances since the 18th State Legislative Assembly (DUN) term expired on June 6.
“Without such legal opinion from the grassroots, if that is true, Sarawakians will be totally in the dark and the YBs we had trusted and put in the office to manage our country will continue to receive salary and allowances, even when they are not supposed to, under the State Constitution.
“Nevertheless, if there is the pay cut amounting to RM3 million, I hope it will be dispersed (sic) fully to assist those severely needed. For an example, a full disbursement of RM100 to each needy family will reach 30,000 families across Sarawak to tie (sic) them over the tough time. We hope there would not be ‘heft transportation fees’ involved,” he said.
Lue also criticised the State government for the late payment of RM1,500 grants for hawkers and small traders under the Sarawakku Sayang Special Aid (BKSS 6.0) which is scheduled to take place in July and December.
He questioned whether it was possible for the hawkers’ businesses to last for another month, what more six months while waiting for the payment as most businesses, big and small, are desperately trying to remain afloat.
He opined assistance should be allocated starting with raw material supplier to curb potential price spikes in downstream and consumer end products or services, and thus, keep the prices of daily necessities affordable for the majority of Sarawakians. — DayakDaily
