Covid-19: Sarawak leaders and lawmakers to donate RM3mil in salary and allowance to state disaster fund

SIBU: All Sarawak Cabinet members will contribute two months of their salary to the state Disaster Fund while Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) assemblymen and political secretaries will do the same with their allowances.

This is expected to add RM3mil to the fund, according to a statement from the Chief Minister's Office on Friday (June 4).

Their contributions will be made in the form of salary deductions effective from this month until each leader has contributed the equivalent of two months' salary or allowance.

According to the statement, the chief minister will have his pay reduced by 30%, the deputy chief minister 25%, ministers and state legislative assembly speaker 20%, assistant ministers 15%, state assemblymen 10%, and political secretaries 5%.

A total of 7,000 civil servants in the state, including those from local authorities and statutory bodies, will also contribute part of their fixed entertainment allowance to the fund. Their total contribution is expected to amount to RM300,000.

"Frontliners from the civil service involved in the containment and control of Covid-19 are exempted from this contribution," the statement said.

The state government will also request all state government-linked companies to contribute to the fund as well, it said.

It said that on May 28, Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg (pic) announced Bantuan Khas Sarawakku Sayang (BKSS) 6.0 totalling RM1.4bil as a follow-up to the state's BKSS 1.0 to 5.0 relief packages.

A total of RM 4.5bil has been allocated by the state government to implement BKSS 1.0 to 6.0 to help ease the burden on Sarawakians affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

State Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah said the chief minister's proposal is a "manifestation of togetherness with the people especially during this difficult and trying time”.

Fatimah agreed that frontliners should be exempted from salary and allowance cuts as a form of recognition for their hard work, risks and sacrifices in containing the spread of the virus, looking after the sick, and helping those under quarantine and lockdown.