Monday, May 20, 2013

DO OUR MINISTERS DESERVE TO BE PAID PEANUTS?

PETALING JAYA: Elected Members of Parliament can earn up to RM10,000 in monthly perks and allowances.

According to Statute Paper No. 235 of the Members of Parliament (Remuneration) Act 1980, MPs are afforded monthly allowances such as for entertainment (RM1,500), personal driver (RM1,200), travel (RM1,500) and telephone (RM900).

It said MPs are also paid an allowance of RM200 per day when they attend meetings in Parliament and RM150 when they attend any meeting, briefing, seminar or event organised by ministries or government agencies at the federal or state level that they are officially invited to.

Besides that, MPs can also claim, while on official duty, food allowances (plus 25% for tips) and funds for hotel room and laundry charges, parking and toll fees, and money for them to buy warm clothing and ceremonial attire.

Other perks MPs enjoy are free medical treatment for themselves, their spouse and children below 21 at government hospitals and clinics, computer, car and housing loans, free firearm and motor vehicle licences, as well as pension and gratuity for their services under certain terms and conditions.

(From the Star 20 May, 2013)



You know what they say - if you pay peanuts, you'll probably get monkeys working for you. Former Singapore PM Lee Kuan Yew was quoted making the remark in justifying the astronomically high salaries Singapore ministers earn.

Singapore pays top dollar to attract the best brains to run the government. This also reduces the incidence of corruption. Prior to 31 December 2010, Singapore Prime Minister's annual salary was S$3,072,200, while the pay of ministerial-grade officers ranged between $1,583,900 and $2,368,500. A Committee to Review Ministerial Salaries appointed on 21 May 2011 recommended wage reductions, with the Prime Minister's salary being reduced by 36% (including the abolition of his pension) to $2.2 million (about US$1.7 million). Nonetheless, the Prime Minister remains among the highest-paid political leaders in the world.

Do you think our Malaysian ministers deserve a pay rise? Or do you think their low salaries is commensurate with their (lack of) experience and qualifications?

Postscript: The Sarawak state legislative assembly has just approved a 3-fold pay rise for ministers and assemblymen, to be backdated to January 1, 2012. The last salary adjustment was in 1992.  Click here for the full article.


Chief Minister of Sarawak Abdul Taib Mahmud will now draw a salary much higher than PM Najib's. It's a matter of time before we see a review of ministerial remuneration. The reward for retaining control of the government after GE13 - a huge pay rise? A sure bet since the PM is also the Finance Minister! By the way, CM Taib is also Minister of Finance and Minister of Resource Planning and Environment. So much absolute power in the hands of one man!

3 comments:

Yvonne said...

Yes, they deserve to be paid peanuts. The reasons Singapore's taxpayers are willing to pay high salaries to their Ministers are very obvious. We, after 56 years should be ahead or at least at par, but instead has fallen behind. Our taxpayers' money should first be spent on lifting Malaysia to high standards then only we, the taxpayers can consider lifting our lawmakers lifestyle to high standards.

Anonymous said...

Even with the seemingly low pay, many are sooooo keen to serve the raykat (serve my foot!) as Ministers.

In Sin, the sal. is all they get.
Here, the official sal. is just for show. Do you really think these leaders care for the sal/allowances??

It is the "unofficial income" that matters. I'm pretty sure Sin leaders total package pale in comparison to our leaders' total package.

Going by demand/supply concept, there shld be a pay cut as demand outstrip supply! Our PM even have to create supply by having x Ministers in PM's dept!!!!!!

Hil said...

But in Singapore they pay a very low rate of tax don't they?