Latest news with #KMKKs
Borneo Post
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Borneo Post
New community leadership proposal to be tabled by special committee in Q3 2025
Sikie speaking during today's DUN sitting. KUCHING (May 26): The Sarawak government has reviewed 923 applications for new community leader posts from all divisions across the state, says Minister in Sarawak Premier's Department Dato Sri John Sikie Tayai. According to him, this proposal for these Ketua Masyarakat and Ketua Kaum (KMKK) posts will be tabled at the Special Committee on the Management of KMKK Affairs meeting, set for the third quarter of this year. In Sarawak 'Ketua Masyarakat (community leader) hierarchy, the post of 'Ketua Kaum' or 'Ketua Kampung' corresponds to village headman, similar to 'Tuai Rumah', who leads a longhouse. Going up are the 'Kapitan' (clan/neighbourhood/group chief), the 'Penghulu' (sub-division or settlement chief), the 'Pemanca' (district or regional chief), and the highest 'Temenggong' (paramount leader). Adding on, Sikie said the applications were reviewed based on general guidelines, including jurisdiction area size and the rising number of households. One general criterion for the creation of a Ketua Kaum post would be the minimum of 20 households in a village, or 20 'doors' (units) in a longhouse. 'The Sarawak government is aware of the need to increase the number of KMKK positions across the state. 'This is to further enhance the effectiveness of government service delivery to the people,' he said in his winding-up speech at the DUN sitting earlier today. On salary and allowance adjustments for KMKKs, the Kakus assemblyman said the last revision made by the state government was in 2018, which set an increase of RM100. 'As such, a new proposal to revise the salaries of community leaders and the allowances for Ketua Kaum has been tabled at the special committee meeting, which has decided that the proposal should be further detailed. 'This is to ensure the proposed rates are reasonable and commensurate with the responsibilities and roles of KMKKs,' he said. In this respect, Sikie said the government acknowledged the increasingly important roles and responsibilities of KMKKs in line with the state's aspiration of achieving the developed status by 2030 under the Post Covid-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030. community leader DUN sitting John Sikie Tayai Ketua Masyarakat lead
Borneo Post
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Borneo Post
Review KMKK allowances, tighten appointment criteria for more effective governance, says Ngemah rep
Anyi says that KMKKs are no longer merely village administrators but have become frontline figures in local governance. KUCHING (May 22): The Sarawak government must strengthen the institution of community leaders and village heads (KMKKs) by reviewing their allowances and tightening appointment criteria to reflect their expanding duties, said Ngemah assemblyman Anyi Jana. Speaking during the Motion of Appreciation on the Yang di-Pertua Negeri's speech at the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting today, he highlighted that KMKKs are no longer merely village administrators but have become frontline figures in local governance. 'The duties of KMKKs today are no longer limited to their own villages or longhouses. They are now burdened with complex administrative responsibilities that require commitment, time, and often personal sacrifice,' he said. As such, he proposed increasing the monthly allowance for Ketua Kaum from RM900 to at least RM1,200, and Penghulu from RM1,200 to RM1,500. 'The current allowances are no longer realistic, especially in view of the economic situation and the scope of their work. A revision is long overdue,' he added. Anyi also urged the state government to re-evaluate the workload placed on Penghulu, some of whom he said are managing over 60 villages or longhouses within their jurisdiction. 'No single person can effectively oversee such a wide area. We should consider limiting the number to 20 or 30 villages at most to ensure more effective governance,' he said. He further highlighted issues with the appointment of Tuai Rumah, noting that in Ngemah alone, there are at least five individuals managing more than 20 'pintu' (household units) without official appointment certificates. 'One Tuai Rumah has served for over 10 years and fulfilled all the criteria, yet still has no certificate. This is not right—those who meet the requirements must be officially recognised.' Furthermore, Anyi also called for greater flexibility in the inheritance of shotguns, which he described as ancestral heirlooms deeply rooted in Dayak tradition. 'Under current rules, shotguns can only be passed down from parent to child, provided the heir passes security and health screenings. But what happens if the head of the family has no children?' he questioned. He proposed that the law be amended to allow inheritance by siblings, both male and female, if no direct descendants are available. 'This would prevent disputes over ownership of these heirlooms and reflect the realities faced by Dayak families,' he said, adding that the state government should also consider reinstating the carry and use permit to further legitimise and regulate shotgun use among rightful inheritors. anyi jana community leaders DUN KMKK village heads
Borneo Post
21-05-2025
- Health
- Borneo Post
Opar rep calls for increased monthly allowance for community leaders, village chiefs to RM1,700
Billy says this has been discussed in several recent House sittings, but no decision has been made by the government so far. – Ukas photo KUCHING (May 21): Billy Sujang (GPS-Opar) has proposed that the allowances for community leaders and village chiefs (KMKKs) be increased to at least RM1,700 per month, equivalent to the minimum wage in the public sector. He said the proposal is timely and necessary to recognise the vital role played by KMKKs in coordinating government programmes, maintaining village harmony, and helping vulnerable groups such as the elderly, persons with disabilities, and low-income families. 'With a more reasonable allowance, they would be more enthusiastic to carry out their duties, while producing more quality and dedicated grassroots leaders,' he said in his Motion of Appreciation to the Yang di-Pertua Negeri at the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting today. According to Billy, the issue of allowances for KMKKs has been discussed in several recent House sittings, but no decision has been made by the government so far. 'KMKKs are an important link between the government and the current monthly allowance rates are RM1,300 for Pemanca, RM1,100 for Penghulu, and RM900 for Ketua Kaum. 'These amounts are no longer seen as commensurating with their responsibilities, workload, and time commitment,' he said. On another matter, Billy drew the attention of the august House to the condition of Lundu Hospital, one of the oldest hospitals in Sarawak. He noted that the building is now more than 60 years old, with the majority of its facilities outdated and no longer suitable for a functioning healthcare facility. 'This is unacceptable for a community that deserves better healthcare services. 'Given the new hospital site is already prepared, my fellow colleague from Tanjong Datu Azizul Adenan and I had brought up this issue in the august House last year, urging the federal government to approve and allocate funds for the construction of a new Lundu District Hospital. 'Modernising our healthcare facilities is not just an improvement; it is a necessity for providing quality healthcare to our residents,' he said. Billy Sujang community leaders DUN monthly allowance Opar village chiefs
