KOTA KINABALU - A total of 3,963 community leaders in the state will enjoy an average increase of 48 per cent in monthly allowance starting next month.
Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor who announced the good news said that one of the justifications for the increase was in recognition of the honourable position of community leaders in the state.
He further said that this included their role as judges in the state native court and covered the costs attending meetings, courses and official functions outside the district.
"The state government recognises the important role of community leaders as leaders at the grassroots level and the increment aims to raise the motivation of community leaders to serve their folks with utmost integrity.
"Furthermore, it had been long overdue with the last review done in 2013. Their allowances remained unchanged while the cost of living increased," he said in a statement, today.
He pointed out that the move would benefit 57 district chiefs, 272 state native chiefs, 648 state native chief representatives, 2,810 village chiefs and also 176 heads in Sabah.
"This is proof of the government's commitment to meet the needs of all parties in providing a quality service in line with the aspiration of Hala Tuju Sabah Maju Jaya," he noted.
The district chiefs' previous allowance of RM2,700 will be increased to RM3,500 (29.6 per cent increase), state native chiefs' allowance will increase from RM1,700 to RM2,500 (47.1 per cent increase), state native chief representatives' from RM900 to RM1,300 ( 44.4 per cent increase), village chiefs and heads from RM700 to RM1,200 (71.4 per cent increase).