Cabinet members agree to 10 percent salary cut

PUTRAJAYA: The Cabinet has agreed to cut the salaries of all ministers by 10%, in a move to cut government spending.

Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad announced this at a press conference after chairing the first weekly Cabinet meeting at Perdana Putra on Wednesday.

"The cut is on the minister's basic salary. This is to help the country's finances.

"This has been a practice of mine. I also did the same thing when I became prime minister in 1981," said Dr Mahathir.

He also said mega projects will be reviewed with the possibility of them being scrapped.

The decision on these projects will be made soon.

He said this when asked about the fate of Pan Borneo Highway, Bandar Malaysia and Tun Razak Exchange.

He also announced the disbandment of "non-essential" agencies such as Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD), National Professors Council and Special Affairs Department (Jasa).

Present at the press conference were Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and all other Cabinet ministers.