PETALING JAYA: Cabinet members are prepared to take further pay cuts as Malaysia braces for potential fallout from the Middle East conflict, says Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil.
Fahmi, who is also government spokesperson, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had previously raised the matter with the Cabinet.
“I am ready to take any directive from the Prime Minister. Since the very beginning of their tenure, ministers’ salaries have already been reduced.
“The matter was discussed before, but ultimately, it is up to the Prime Minister to decide on its implementation,” he said after launching the Universiti Malaya Public Health Awareness Campaign in Pantai Dalam yesterday.
On Friday, Anwar said Putrajaya is prepared to consider additional pay cuts if the Middle East crisis worsens, although he noted that ministers’ salaries are already relatively modest.
In 2022, the Cabinet agreed to a 20% pay cut until Malaysia achieves economic recovery.
Anwar had previously described the move as a gesture of solidarity with Malaysians facing the tough economic situation.
Commenting further, Fahmi said he would raise a proposal to increase the Budi95 fuel quota to 300 litres for media practitioners at the National Economic Action Council meeting next Tuesday.
Fahmi added that his ministry will also facilitate access to information for media practitioners by introducing hybrid briefings on the global energy crisis and post-Cabinet press conferences.
This will allow journalists in Putrajaya to attend in person while those in Kuala Lumpur can join online, he said.
“The aim is to improve access to information while easing logistical and cost constraints faced by media practitioners,” he added.
Previously, the Malaysian Media Clubs Coalition had urged Putrajaya to consider a special exemption for registered media practitioners to retain the monthly 300-litre RON95 quota.
The quota was reduced to 200 litres per month under targeted subsidy measures.
