KOTA KINABALU – The additional RM5.6 million fund to cover the salary increments of all Sabah lawmakers should fund state constituencies, said Sabah Muda chairman Amos Thien.
He said the argument that the increments would be used to provide aid and assistance to constituents does not hold water, as it is better to channel the funds straight to the constituency allocations.
“If the increments go to the salaries, there is no level of accountability, as expenses from salaries are not reported, unlike constituency allocations.
“It will be more difficult to see where the money is going afterwards. This is something that voters have a right to know,” Thien said in a statement here today.
In the recent Sabah assembly sitting, Sabah passed the bill to raise the salaries of the chief minister, deputy ministers, ministers, assistant ministers, assemblymen, speaker, deputy speakers and political secretaries by 40%.
Thien also lambasted Datuk Yusof Yacob (Sindumin-BN) and Datuk Masiung Banah (Kuamut-Independent)’s branding of Sabah’s elected representatives as ATM machines.
He said only irresponsible politicians fork out cash and encourage a culture of seeking handouts among voters.
“Come election season, candidates will begin doling handouts to win favours from voters.
“But how far do these handouts improve the lives of the rakyat? Why are there still too many Sabahans who live in poverty?
“It is undoubtedly the job of the assemblymen to help the rakyat, but aid and assistance should be given through proper channels as well.
“Politicians and authorities always tell the rakyat to go through proper channels when they need assistance. YBs should do the same when providing assistance,” he said.
Opposition Pakatan Harapan reps in Sabah have accepted the pay upgrade but say they will use the funds to foot the legal cost of their 40% revenue entitlement originating summons in court.
Only Warisan reps made it public that they had opposed the bill.
State constituencies are given an allocation of RM2 million a year either directly to the assemblymen’s office or to the district council in opposition-held constituencies. – The Vibes, July 25, 2022
