KUCHING: The proposed increase in sitting allowance for members of the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly (DUN) is timely.
Engkilili assemblyman Dr Johnical Rayong Ngipa said that the current rate at RM50 a day had not been reviewed for more than 40 years.
“I totally agree with the suggestion by Daro assemblyman Safiee Ahmad who raised the issue in the just concluded DUN sitting.
“The rate needs to be reviewed and revised,” he told New Sarawak Tribune when contacted yesterday.
Safiee raised the issue when debating on the motion of appreciation to the Head of State Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud.
He said that the allowance of RM50 per day has been constant since 42 years ago.
Meanwhile, Premier Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg, during the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) Backbenchers Dinner on Thursday (May 26), agreed in principle to increase the attendance allowance or sitting allowance for state representatives in the DUN.
“It is appropriate. The existing rate had been used for decades.”
