SABAH VILLAGE CHIEFS GET RM800

Village chiefs get RM800

KOTA KINABALU 23rd November, 2010: Village chiefs in Sabah will have their monthly allowance increased to RM800 starting January next year.

Presently, they receive RM450 every month, with RM400 from the state government and the remaining RM50 contributed by the federal government.

Local Government and Housing Minister, Datuk Hajiji Mohd Noor said the decision was made following the announcement by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak in his recent 2011 Budget speech that community leaders will get a raise.

Hajiji was responding to a question from Sulabayan BN representative, Herman Mohamad.

The minister said the federal government will continue to contributeRM50 but the state government will increase its payment to RM750.

To a supplementary question, he said his ministry will submit a proposal to the Cabinet to increase the monthly allowance of other community leaders such as Native Chiefs, Representatives of Native Chiefs and Chinese community leaders.

Meanwhile, Assistant Minister of Community Development and Consumer Affairs, Datuk Herbert Timbun Lagadan said there are a total of 15,884 disabled persons registered in Sabah, with 2,037 of them enrolled in training programmes conducted by either government welfare agencies or at community centres.

From the figure, 6,498 have directly received financial assistance from the ministry while 5,461 obtained theirs from various other financial assistance schemes.

Herbert was answering a question from Membakut BN representative, Datuk Ariffin Arif who asked how many disabled have been identified in Sabah and if they were receiving any assistance from the government.

Rural Development Minister Datuk Ewon Ebin in his reply to a question from Tanjong Batu BN representative, Datuk Hamisa Samat, said that his ministry has implemented nine Hybrid Solar projects in Sabah involving a total cost of RM102.5 million.

The project which was introduced beginning 2004 to replace the less effective photovoltaic project has so far benefited 1,863 families in 22 villages who are now able to enjoy 24-hour electricity supply daily.

To a supplementary question, Ewon said the ministry was aware that many rural families were still unable to enjoy electricity despite the Hybrid Solar project in their area as they could not afford the cost for connecting and wiring.

He added a proposal had been submitted to have the ministry assist rural families in installing the proper connection and wiring system.

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TOP MARKS FOR SABAH

Sabah is one of the only two states that received a rating of “good” for financial management from Auditor-general Tan Sri Ambrin Buang.

The remaining states were rated “satisfactory” and were advised to practise prudent spending while taking active steps to recover monies owned to them.

The Edge reported that Ambrin also told state governments to review their investments to ensure good yields and keep sufficient levels of liquidity in the state coffers.

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Kenaikan elaun pengerusi JKKK perlu diperluas ke Sabah: Sairin

Kerajaan negeri berharap kenaikan elaun peng- erusi Jawatankuasa Kemajuan dan Keselamatan Kampung (JKKK) yang dinikmati di Semenanjung dapat diperluaskan ke negeri ini menerusi peruntukan Kerajaan Persekutuan.