By Nur Ashikin Louis
KUCHING, June 6: Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Sarawak is of the opinion that the State cabinet ministers, State assemblymen and political secretaries should not be paid salaries and allowances from the Sarawak State Treasury as the 18th Sarawak State Legislative Assembly (DUN) has reached the last day of term.
State PKR Information chief Abun Sui Anyit noted that in light of the alarming Covid-19 situation in Sarawak, the King on May 25 has allowed the Sarawak government to function as usual under the Emergency (Essential Powers) Ordinance 2021 (EO2021).
“However, the King did not mention that the State DUN term would be extended. This means that the Sarawak DUN should be dissolved on June 6 (today) even though EO2021 is effective until Aug 1.
“In EO2021, what is clearly mentioned only in relation to the State Constitution has no effect but does not mention matters relating to the salaries of Sarawak Cabinet Ministers and all Sarawak State assemblymen and political secretaries.
“Thus, we (PKR Sarawak) are of the opinion that the Sarawak Cabinet, State assemblymen and political secretaries should be immoral to be paid salaries and allowances from the Sarawak State Treasury in the period after the state assembly was dissolved on June 6.
“So, we are seeking an explanation from Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg; from where do the Sarawak Ministers and Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) MPs get their salaries to contribute to the Sarawak Disaster Fund to tackle Covid-19 after June 6 or in EO2021?” he said in a statement today.
Abun further stressed that the State government should instead use 100 per cent of the supposed salaries to be channeled into the Disaster Fund and not cutting down 30 per cent, 25 per cent and so on.
“This is because 100 per cent of the money is the people’s money and should be used 100 per cent for the people of Sarawak as well,” he added.
On June 4, the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) announced that the Sarawak cabinet ministers, DUN members and political secretaries will contribute two months worth of their salary and allowances, starting this month, to the State Disaster Fund.
The percentage of deductions of monthly salaries for cabinet ministers starting June are 30 per cent for Chief Minister, 25 per cent for Deputy Chief Ministers, 20 per cent for Ministers and DUN Speaker and 15 per cent for Assistant Ministers until they meet the commitment of two months worth of salary.
As for DUN members and political secretaries, their allowances will be cut 10 per cent and five per cent respectively, also starting this month until they meet the commitment of two months worth of salary. — DayakDaily
