20/05/2026
Interesting 🤔
Too Busy to Attend 16 Days of Meetings
Datuk Dr Ngu slams Sarawak assemblymen: High salaries, heavy benefits, but derelict in duty
(Simanggang 16th) In response to a recent incident in the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly, where proceedings were briefly delayed due to insufficient quorum—forcing the Speaker to repeatedly ring the bell to summon assemblymen back into the chamber—Datuk Dr Ngu Piew Seng, President of the Federation of Sri Aman and Betong Divisions Chinese Association and Chairman of the Simanggang Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, strongly criticised certain Sarawak assemblymen for being “irresponsible, negligent, and lacking accountability”, despite enjoying high salaries and generous benefits.
He said it was unacceptable that such a situation could occur in a state assembly that only sits twice a year, for approximately 16 days in total.
“Ordinary people work more than 250 days a year, and employees who are late or absent face salary deductions. Yet some state assemblymen, who only need to attend 16 days of meetings a year, are still unable to show up consistently. It is no surprise that the public is outraged,” he said.
Datuk Dr Ngu pointed out that, based on publicly available records, Sarawak state assemblymen already receive among the highest remuneration packages in Malaysia. According to a 2014 media report following a salary revision in 2013, a regular state assemblyman receives multiple fixed components, including: basic salary of RM15,000 per month; rural transport allowance of RM2,500 (with higher rates for rural representatives); additional transport allowance of RM5,000; special allowance of RM1,500; and telephone allowance of RM1,000.
“In total, their fixed monthly salary and allowances alone amount to approximately RM25,000, excluding sitting allowances, service centre allocations, and other benefits such as medical coverage, official overseas trips, and retirement pensions,” he said.
He further noted that some veteran politicians even continue to receive multiple pensions after retirement, including pensions as former state assemblymen, ministers, or deputy ministers, amounting to substantial sums.
Datuk Dr Ngu added that the Sarawak government has also continued to increase political and administrative expenditure in recent years, including the creation of additional state seats, political secretary positions, and various allowances and benefits. He estimated that the addition of 17 state assembly seats alone could increase government expenditure by approximately RM20 million per term, excluding pensions and constituency-related costs.
He stressed that in a time when the public is facing economic pressure, rising prices, and a higher cost of living, it is only natural for people to question why elected representatives enjoy such generous remuneration yet fail to fulfil even their most basic legislative duties.
“The legislative assembly is not a place to simply ‘sign in and collect allowances’. It is a sacred institution for scrutinising government policies, debating laws, and voicing the concerns of the people,” he said.
Datuk Dr Ngu said the incident once again exposed a lack of oversight and checks and balances among some ruling assemblymen, resulting in weak discipline and low accountability.
He urged the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly to immediately publish full attendance records of all assemblymen, including attendance rates, speaking and debate participation, questions raised, and reasons for absences, so that the public can scrutinise who is truly working and who is merely “drawing salaries without substance”.
He also proposed the implementation of a “deduction for absenteeism system”, whereby assemblymen who are absent without valid reasons should have their sitting allowances and certain benefits automatically deducted to ensure fairness.
“Public funds are not unlimited. Since state assemblymen enjoy among the highest salaries and benefits in the country, they must demonstrate corresponding responsibility and performance, rather than being derelict in duty and treating their role casually,” he said.
