A report on study of allowance, salary hike for MPs, senators and House officials will tabled next year - says Minister in Prime Minister's Department Shahidan Kassim.
Wow! Merely weeks after lambasting Selangor Mentri Besar Khalid Ibrahim and Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng over their new pay rise for wakil rakyat, the minister himself has been tasked to break the news.
THE report on the study of the adjustment and increment of salary and allowance for members of parliament (MPs) and senators is expected to be tabled next year, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Dr Shahdidan Kassim said.
He said the study had covered all aspects, including the economy and current situation. At present, the minister said the monthly salary and allowance received by the country’s lawmakers was RM6,000, which was deemed low compared to other countries.
“In Cambodia and Thailand, for example, their MPs are receiving a monthly salary of up to USD4,000 (RM12,000). Even the lawmakers in Uganda receive approximately USD2,500 (RM7,000),” he said when winding up the debate on the Supply Bill 2014 at the Dewan Negara here yesterday.
Shahidan said the increase of salary and allowance for MPs and senators at the national level should pave the way for similar increment at the state level, instead of the other way around.
“It’s weird when a state government took the lead in this matter. This is embarrassing,” said the minister who also described the situation as a violation of the parliamentary ethics.
Last month, Selangor State Assembly passed the salary increment for its menteri besar, executive council members, state assembly speaker, deputy speaker and assemblymen, effective Jan 1, 2014.
Penang state government had also proposed a salary increment for its assemblymen from RM4,112.79 to RM6,000. — Bernama