MPs, Senators get substantial hike in allowances

KUALA LUMPUR: The allowances for Members of Parliament (MP) have been increased from RM11,000 to RM16,000 after a Bill to raise the remuneration of elected representatives was passed in the Dewan Rakyat.

The Members of Parliament (Remuneration) (Amendment) Bill 2014 was initially deferred for its second reading in November last year after lawmakers sought to review the quantum.

The initial proposed hike in allowance for MPs was from RM6,508 to RM11,000.

With several amendments to the Bill passed by the House at 3.15am, the amount was increased to RM16,000.

Among other increases were the allowances for Senators from RM7,000 to RM11,000.

The allowances for the Senate president and the Dewan Rakyat Speaker were also raised from RM20,000 to RM31,000 while their respective deputies will receive RM22,000 from the initial proposal of RM16,000.

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

On Nov 28 last year, the Bill was deferred by the House after MPs from both sides of the political divide agreed that the increase should be reviewed.