Tenom: The Education Ministry are urged to study and standardise the Regional Housing Allowance for teachers from Sabah and Sarawak.Tenom MP Datuk Raime Unggi said the Regional Housing Allowance is a substitute to the Low Housing Rental Rate facilities which is given to officers who are posted to another region.
"And like others, teachers are also among those who are feeling the pinch due to the increasing cost of living," he said.
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He raised the concern surrounding the allowance rate as it has become an issue among teachers who felt that the remuneration facilities are not consistent and not commensurate.
"Based on the information I received, the Regional Housing Allowance received by Grade 52 to Grade 54 teachers from Peninsular Malaysia posted to Sabah and Sarawak are between RM1,200 and RM1,300.
'However, Sabahan and Sarawakian teachers with the same grade and posted to the Peninsular Malaysia, receive a much lower rate of between RM900 and RM1,100.
"For Grade 48, the Regional Housing Allowance received by teachers from the Peninsula who are posted to Sabah and Sarawak are between RM1,030 and RM1,130, while the rate for Sabahan and Sarawakian teachers with the same grade who are posted to the Peninsula is only between RM900 and RM1,100.
"Teachers from Peninsula holding Grade 44 and posted to Sabah and Sarawak receive between RM730 and RM830, while those posted to the Peninsula only receive between RM200 and RM550," he said.
"We often hear that those posted to Sabah and Sarawak are better off because they are given a much higher allowance which attracts them to work in Sabah and Sarawak.
However, what about those who are posted to the Peninsula? They are certainly grateful for the remuneration given, but it is not sufficient, particularly for those who are posted to big cities where the cost of living is higher.
"It is certainly difficult, especially when the Regional Housing Allowance is not standardised with the current housing rate.
"There are many complaints raised by teachers who question why are there some who receive a much lower Regional Housing Allowance, while others receive a much higher Regional Housing Allowance compared to the cost of house rental," he said.
He said this might be viewed as a minor issue, but the situation might cause teachers to loose focus in their work and this would lead towards poor academic performance in schools.
