KUCHING, July 31: Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin has agreed to arrange a meeting with the Sarawak chief minister to address several issues including longhouse chief allowances and land for affordable housing.
Zuraida strongly maintained her stance in a previous statement, urging the state government to handle the allowance of tuai rumah in a professional manner.
“My objective is clear, the issue on recognition of tuai rumah regardless of their political understanding is democratically in the right direction in the development of Malaysia Baru.
“They represent the voices of the people mostly in the rural areas. The same goes to the development of longhouses,” she said in a statement.
Zuraida said the meeting arrangement with chief minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg was to address the said issues and other matters pertaining to her ministry.
She was also responding to Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, who said on Monday that longhouse chiefs’ monthly allowances were paid regularly.
He added that this have been in the state’s payroll system since 2013. Longhouse chiefs would receive monthly allowances until the expiry of their appointments.
During her visit to Bintulu last Saturday (July 27), Zuraida claimed that some longhouse chiefs told her that the state government did not give them allowances because they were not recognised, as they were appointed by Pakatan Harapan representatives.
Touching on land matter, which is under the jurisdiction of the state government, Zuraida pointed out this requires a clear guideline, so that federal department planning to assist longhouse development can be carried out smoothly. — DayakDaily
