Thorough study needed for increase of community leaders allowances

THE State government will make a thorough study on the proposal to increase the salary and allowances for the 7,585 community leaders and longhouse chiefs in Sarawak.

Minister in the Premier’s Department Datuk Seri John Sikie Tayai said the government is aware of the increase of costs of living and responsibilities of the community leaders. Hence, he stressed that a thorough study is needed before the increase could be implemented.

“We can’t rush to approve the increase of salary and allowances, we have to check properly how we should implement it and we need time to study it.

“There is no time frame for the study because it needs proper discussion, a lot of things need to be discussed and taken into consideration,” he told reporters in a press conference after his ministerial winding-up speech at the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting on Monday (Nov 27).

Stating there are differences between longhouses of the Iban and Orang Ulu communities, Sikie said for the Iban longhouse, there are 20 to 30 doors in a longhouse, however for the Orang Ulu community, there are over 200 doors in a longhouse.

“Look at the difference, that’s why we need to study in detail to find out how to implement it and there can’t be a time limit, as long as we can find a good solution to it then we can implement it, we know Sabah has done it, (and) they revised it,” he said.

Sikie revealed that the last time the Sarawak government made a salary and allowances adjustment for community leaders was in 2018.

“For the recognition of the appointment of community leaders after February 17, 2000, the government has stipulated that the community leaders under their supervision must have a total of 20 doors and above,” he said.

In a related matter, he said the State government has stipulated that community leaders appointed after Merdeka in 1963, and longhouses of less than 10 doors, payment of monthly allowances should be stopped.