PETALING JAYA: MPs have no reason to claim that their salaries are too low or that they are being forced into debt just to make ends meet, says the Prime Minister’s Office.
In a statement, it said MPs are earning between RM30,000 and RM40,000 a month, giving a breakdown of how much they earn:
> MPs get a fixed monthly allowance of RM25,700.
> They are entitled to RM400 a day for attending parliamentary sittings, RM300 a day for attending Public Accounts Committee (PAC) or Special Select Committee meetings when Parliament is not in session, and RM250 a day for PAC meetings during parliamentary sittings.
> They are eligible for RM300 a day for attending official briefings, RM100 a day as daily subsistence allowance when attending Parliament or on official duties beyond 32km from their residence, as well as travel and accommodation claims.
> For official duties abroad, MPs can claim a meal allowance of RM340 per night and a daily subsistence allowance of RM170, along with accommodation and transport claims.
> They are also entitled to claims for foreign currency exchange losses and tips equivalent to 25% of the meal allowance.
The statement noted that with all these payments combined, an MP’s income could reach between RM30,000 and RM40,000 a month, a figure previously mentioned by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Anwar had responded to Perikatan Nasional chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who said the conditions imposed by the government for equal allocation were too strict and unfair.
Muhyiddin said that was why the Opposition coalition had rejected a draft MOU.
