KANGAR: Perlis Menteri Besar Abu Bakar Hamzah has announced a RM3,000 monthly pay cut on his first day in office, as part of efforts to ease the state’s financial burden.
According to Sinar Harian, he said the same approach would apply to all newly appointed state executive councillors (exco), with each exco member taking a RM1,500 monthly salary reduction.
"On this occasion, I’d like to announce a RM3,000 pay cut every month for myself, and for the exco members I will appoint, we will have a RM1,500 pay cut each month to help stabilise the economic situation for the people and the state of Perlis.
"For me, it’s not a problem (for the new exco)," he said after the ‘clock-in’ session on his first day at the Menteri Besar’s Office at Kompleks Seri Putra on Monday (Dec 29).
Abu Bakar explained that this move was a sacrifice for the people and the state.
"We must serve the state and people. There are people out there struggling to earn RM500 a month, so I’m doing this wholeheartedly so people see this as a sacrifice to help develop the state.
"This will change once our economic situation improves. For now, even RM3,000 a month, if multiplied over a year or two, will add up and help the state," he said.
Previously, Sinar Harian reported that the new Perlis state exco lineup, comprising representatives from Bersatu and PAS, would be appointed within two weeks.
Abu Bakar said the exco appointments would follow discussions with State Secretary Datuk Rahimi Ismail before submitting recommendations to the Raja of Perlis, Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Jamalullail, for royal assent.
On Sunday, it was reported that Abu Bakar had been appointed the new Menteri Besar, replacing Mohd Shukri Ramli, who resigned last Thursday.
This followed the loss of majority support for Mohd Shukri, with eight assemblymen, three from PAS and five from Bersatu, signing statutory declarations to withdraw support.
The Raja of Perlis, Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Jamalullail, subsequently appointed the Kuala Perlis assemblyman as the new Menteri Besar at a ceremony at Istana Arau on Sunday.
