IPOH: New village development officers cannot claim allowances when they travel from their home state or district to the villages they serve.

       "Regardless of where they live, they are only allowed to claim travelling allowance from the local district Office to the villages where they serve," said Housing and Local Government Ministry’s Chinese affairs adviser Leong Cheok Keng.

       "They are also not entitled to claim for toll charges, food and accommodation," he added.

       Perak Youth Assembly Malim Nawar representative Wong Chin Ho had on Sunday (July 4) claimed that some development officers were from other states or districts and was concerned about incurring substantial mileage claims.

       Wong had also said that some of the officers were handling multiple districts and would have difficulty overseeing so many.

       On this, Leong, who is also Malim Nawar state assemblyman, said this was only temporary and the ministry was looking for suitable candidates.

       "They are only caretakers for the other districts besides their own," he said, adding that they were also not paid double even though they served more than one district.

       "I hope this can clear any confusion. I also urge Wong to speak to me in the future before going public on issues related to the ministry."