The Kelantan government may pay half of the salary of state assemblypersons in gold dinar and silver dirham.

State economic planning, finance and welfare committee chairperson Husam Musa told the state assembly sitting today that the proposal would be forwarded to the state treasury for its and the state government's consideration.

"If there is no problem, we may pay half of the assemblyperson's salary in dinar and dirham," he said in reply to a supplementary question from Arifabillah Ibrahim (PAS-Dabong).

NONE However, he added, the proposed payment in dinar and dirham would only be made to the assemblypersons who chose the new mode, while those who disagreed would continue to be paid their full salary in Malaysian ringgit.

To a question from Noor Zahidi Omar (BN-Pengkalan Kubor) on the development in Lembah Sireh, Deputy Menteri Besar Ahmad Yakub said the project in the area had been categorised as problematic.

He said that until now, only 50 per cent had been completed and as such, the state government had claimed for compensation from the developer, which had paid RM7.3 million.

Ahmad said besides that, the state government would study and review the agreement made with the developer.

In 2003, Menteri Besar Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat announced that the state government would turn Lembah Sireh, located near the Kelantan river, into a RM2 billion commercial hub.

The project includes housing areas, offices and hotels.

- Bernama