MPs give themselves a big raise

PARLIAMENTARIANS have passed a Bill to raise their allowance from RM6,508 to RM16,000, a 146% jump.

The Members of Parliament (Remuneration) (Amendment) Bill was initially deferred for its second reading in last November after lawmakers sought to review the quantum of increase.

On Nov 28, MPs from both sides of the political divide agreed to relook the revision that will increase the allowance from RM6,508 to RM11,000.

The Bill, passed by the House yesterday without any objections, will also see the allowances for Senators increased from RM7,000 to RM11,000.

The allowance for the Senate president and the Dewan Rakyat Speaker was also raised from RM20,000 to RM31,000, while their respective deputies will see theirs revised to RM22,000, up from the initial proposal of RM16,000.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim said the new allowances would see the cost to the Government increasing from RM14.75mil to RM31.97mil a year.

MPs’ salaries have been revised in 1992, 1997, 2001, 2002 and 2005.

In the 2005 review, their basic pay was increased from RM5,916.90 (in 2002) to RM6,508.59, which is not inclusive of other benefits such as a RM1,200 driver’s allowance.