By Chris Bishop
KUCHING, May 16: The allowance for assemblymen attending Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUS) sittings will be increased to RM450 from RM50 per day, says Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
Abang Johari said the increase is in line with the RM400 per day allowance received by Members of Parliament (MP) attending Dewan Rakyat.
“I have asked the DUS Speaker Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohammad Asfia Awang Nassar, who told me that Sarawak assemblymen received RM50 per day while MPs received RM400.
“So we will increase the allowance from RM50 to RM450 per day,” said Abang Johari in his speech during the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) Backbenchers’ Night held on May 15.
He added that with the DUS sitting convened for eight days and two sessions a year, the total amount that need to be paid to assemblymen will be about half a million ringgit.
“Sarawak has enough revenue to pay the allowance for the assemblyman for the eight days’ DUN sitting,” he said. — DayakDaily
