‘Special payment for headmen to be reviewed’
In Peninsular Malaysia, a village head or ‘tok batin’ administers a village with a population of more than 1,000 people. In Sarawak, the ‘Tuai Rumah’ and ‘Ketua Kaum’ are the headmen of the native villages, while Pemanca and Penghulu are the community leaders.
KUCHING: The central budget team will review the number of village heads to benefit from the one- off special payment of RM1,500 as a token of appreciation for their contribution, as announced under Budget 2018.
Kanowit District Officer Donny Minggu Ling said the number of beneficiaries listed in the budget was incorrect as it did not include all native village heads across the state.
Prime Minister Datuk Sri Najib Tun Razak announced that the government would provide a oneoff special payment of RM1,500 to appreciate the contribution of village heads and ‘ tok batins’ — RM1,000 to be paid in January next year and the balance during Hari Raya Aidilfitri later on.
However, this would only translate to only 9,800 recipients.
“In Peninsular Malaysia, a village head or ‘ tok batin’ administers a village with a population of more than 1,000 people. In Sarawak, the ‘ Tuai Rumah’ and ‘Ketua Kaum’ are the headmen of the native villages, while Pemanca and Penghulu are the community leaders.
“In Kanowit District alone, there are some 400 Tuai Rumah. So based on the given figure of 9,800, it seems like there’s a shortfall in Sarawak. We have raised this particular issue to the Putrajaya budget team and they have agreed to look into it,” he said, assuring local village heads that the state budget team would follow the matter closely and provide them with the necessary updates.
Donny, who is one of three officers under Budget 2019 Department Speakers Group, said this during the state-level Budget 2018 briefing at Malaysian National Film Development Corporation ( Finas) premises here yesterday, where state Information Department director Abang Sardon Abang Hashim and deputy director Ali Suhaili were among those present.
To a question during the Q& A session, Donny said community leaders in Peninsular Malaysia received RM100 more than their counterparts in Sabah and Sarawak.
“As for the outstanding payment of the additional RM100 in allowance as announced under Budget 2016, village and community leaders can approach their respective District and Resident’s Offices for follow-ups,” he said.
On Budget 2018, Donny regarded it as ‘the best in 54 years’.
“It is a comprehensive budget that gives focus and benefits to different sectors of society – covering a wide range of the country’s development needs,” he said.
Donny said among the key issues were the several big allocations set aside to benefit entrepreneurs, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) as well as the agriculture sector; inculcating the culture of savings in National Transformation 2050 ( TN50) generation; proposed maternity leave for the private sector from 60 days to 90 days; increase of allowance for senior citizens; benefits to public servants who retire for medical reasons; as well as introduction of new working hours from 9am to 6pm in order to give workers more flexibility.
Other areas of focus include the wellbeing of the people and providing opportunities to generate income through various loans and schemes; restructuring of Kedai Rakyat 1Malaysia as KR1M 2.0; standardisation of prices for basic necessities in Sabah and Sarawak; as well as haemodialysis assistance and upgrading of healthcare facilities.
On sago plantation, a contributor to the state economy but not included in the Budget, another speaker Aishah Latip said this would normally be addressed in the state budget instead of the national budget.
On retirement benefits for public servants who died while their service had been less than 25 years, she said this matter is waiting for the Pension Department to issue a circular meant to clarify the terms of eligibility.
Donny Minggu Ling, Kanowit District Officer