PUTRAJAYA: There are no plans to raise the allowances for wakil rakyat, especially not when the country is trying to weather the economic storm, said the Deputy Prime Minister.
Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said there were other pressing issues needing the Government’s attention before it could think of reviewing the remuneration package of ministers, deputy ministers and elected representatives.
“We are aware of the burden of being an elected representative. The rakyat will come to see their elected representatives if they have no money to pay their children’s school fees; or if they were slapped with fines by the police for breaking the speed limit.
“I have been a wakil rakyat for 30-odd years and I have faced the same situation,” he said when asked to comment on the remuneration package for MPs and state assemblymen.
Muhyiddin said increasing a Member of Parliament’s (MP) allowances by RM10,000 or RM20,000 a month would still be insufficient.
He called on the elected representatives to be wise in managing the situation, adding that government agencies and departments could help in development issues for the constituencies.
On a study conducted by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission suggesting that MPs should be given a pay rise as their current allowances could lead to power abuse and graft, Muhyiddin said the commission was free to make recommendations.
“However, this does not mean that we are bound to their suggestions. As I have said, there are other aspects that we have to look into,” he said.
MPs are currently given a monthly allowance of RM6,508 in addition to other claims made available to them.
The last increase was made on June 9, 2005.
A state assemblyman gets a monthly allowance of RM3,000 and an additional RM3,000 if he is appointed as executive councillor.
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