KOTA KINABALU: Sabah lawmakers are concerned with public perceptions following their salary hike, which was approved by the state assembly, today.
This comes after the Members of the Administration and Members of the Legislative Assembly (Remuneration) (Amendment) Enactment 2022 was approved by the august house at its second day of sitting here today.
The bill, which had its second and third reading, was tabled by Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.
It saw a state assemblyman's salary increase from the present RM7,950 to RM11,130, an increase of RM3,180. There are 73 elected assemblymen, while another six are nominated assemblymen in the Sabah State Assembly.
The Chief Minister's salary meanwhile will be increased from RM23,595 to RM33,033; Deputy Chief Minister from RM20,872.50 to RM29,221.50; Minister and Speaker from RM16,335 to RM22,869; Assistant minister and deputy speaker from RM12,705 to RM17,787; political secretary from RM5,445 to RM7,623.
"Prior to the Bill being tabled, it (the salary increase) was studied thoroughly by a committee led by the Sabah Civil Service director. In fact, was proposed by the then Barisan Nasional government.
"Therefore, the revision is necessary because of Sabah's vast area and being the second largest state in Malaysia after Sarawak," said Hajiji, who is also state Finance Minister.
Assafal Alian (Warisan-Tungku) said he was concerned with the salary increase due to the timing and the public perception towards lawmakers.
"This is a very sensitive issue. Once this (issue) of ministers' salaries goes out, we are done for. People out there are quite cynical about us assemblymen.
"At other places, some ministers are being chucked into rubbish bins as they are not performing. But all of us here are performing.
"It shouldn't be just us here who have the increment, civil servants should also have a salary increase and the people should receive the spillover benefits from the salary increase", he said during the debate session on the bill.
Phoong Jin Zhe (DAP-Luyang) in his debate address said with the increment in salary and emolument, lawmakers should shoulder more responsibilities, which includes having to attend more state assembly sittings.
Datuk Masiung Banah (Independent-Kuamut) said lawmakers have to play multiple roles such as doctor, lawyer, welfare officer and "civil defence personnel" for weddings, accidents or other community events, when it comes to taking care of their constituency members.
Datuk Dr Yusof Yacob (Independent-Sindumin) asked for the people's understanding as the increment could have been done much earlier during the Warisan-led government.
"When the prices of goods increase, the first person whom the public will ask for help from is the elected representative
"Even the driver's allowance is RM1,300. No one wants to work with RM1,300, when the elected representatives work mornings and nights.
"For them to survive and look after their wives, they have to top it up from their meals and lodgings allowance so that they will provide their service.
"Although we are just normal state assemblymen, we still need a personal assistant. We need to support them, besides the cleaner at home also needs money."
For Kemabong assemblyman Datuk Rubin Balang, the over RM3,000 increment was still inadequate for lawmakers who have a big constituency to shoulder.