Higher allowances for almost 4,000 Sabah community leaders from Sept 1

KOTA KINABALU: About 3,963 Sabah community leaders (ketua adat) will get increments of up to 48% in their monthly allowance from September.

Monthly allowances for district chiefs will be raised to RM3,500 from RM2,700 (29.6% increase), native chiefs (ketua anak negeri) to RM2,500 from RM1,700 (47.1% increase), native chief representatives (wakil ketua anak negeri) to RM1,300 from RM900 (44.4% increase), village heads and kapitans to RM1,200 from RM700 (71.4% increase).

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said the increment will benefit 57 district chiefs, 272 ketua anak negeri, 648 wakil ketua anak negeri, 2,810 village heads and 176 kapitans throughout the state.

Hajiji said that the increment was necessary as these community leaders attend meetings, courses and official functions outside the district in their role that among others include sitting on Native Court hearings.

"The state government recognises the important role of the ketua adat as grassroots leaders and the raise is intended to motivate them to serve with integrity to the community.

'Furthermore, it has been long overdue with the last upward revision done in 2013. Their allowance has remained unchanged since then while the cost of living has risen," he said in a statement on Sunday (Aug 27).

He said that increments reflect the government's commitment to meeting the needs of everyone in providing quality service, in line with the development agenda under Hala Tuju Sabah Maju Jaya.