Abdul Hadi Awang, Anwar Ibrahim, and Lim Kit Siang
KUALA LUMPUR: The Pakatan Rakyat top leadership has demanded that Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim review the proposed salary hike for the state government leaders and lawmakers.
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang and Lim Kit Siang collectively said while the pay rise was necessary, the quantum should be determined carefully.
"A study should be done on the pay rise decision, and while we leave it to Khalid and the state government for the final decision, we generally agree that the amount can be reduced before the hike is implemented," said Anwar at a joint press conference in Parliament.
On Khalid's firm stance that there will be no change in the pay rise and recipients who did not want to accept it could donate the excess to charity, Anwar said it was merely a "spur of the moment response".
"I have already met him about this, and he is amenable to our proposal to review the proposed new salaries," he said.
Both Abdul Hadi and Lim agreed, adding that the state government also needed to consider its financial position and the rakyat's sentiments before making a final call.
Under the new salary structure, the pay of assemblymen will be upped 87% from RM6,000 to RM11,250 a month, the Speaker from RM6,109.29 to RM22,500 (268%), and the deputy Speaker from RM3,327.50 to RM15,750 (373%).
The salary of exco members will go up 231% from RM6,109.29 to RM20,250 while the Mentri Besar will have a pay rise of 106.4% from RM14,175 to RM29,250.
Meanwhile, Tan Sri Shahrir Samad (BN-Johor Bahru) told a press conference that Selangor state government should base the pay of its leaders and lawmakers on the state's income per capita.
"They should index the salaries based on the state economy, and doing this by GDP per capita is the best way as they should adjust salaries to a measure acceptable to public domain, and GDP is in the public domain," he said.
Shahrir also lashed out at Khalid's reason for the salary raise, which was so that the recipients will be able to work without worrying about sourcing money from elsewhere.
"It does not mean that the lesser money you receive the more possible it is for you to become corrupt.
"Corruption is a matter of greed and lack of morals, not about a lack of money. If other MPs, for example, can lead a more moderate life, why can't they?" he said.
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