RM1,000 pay rise for assemblymen

2009/10/28

THE state assembly yesterday unanimously approved a bill to raise the salary of the menteri besar, state assembly speaker, state executive councillors, assemblymen and administration members.

State Economic Planning, Finance and Welfare Committee chairman Datuk Husam Musa, in tabling the Members of the Administration and the Legislative Assembly (Remuneration) Enactment said the salaries had not been increased since 2002, although Parliament had raised the salaries of the cabinet and members of parliament in 2004.

Husam said the rise was fair considering the current higher cost of living which had put tremendous pressure, especially on the state assemblymen.

"The raise is moderate and appropriate, considering the duties and responsibilities of the administration and assemblymen."

Under the new bill, the menteri besar will see his salary increased from RM10,200 to RM12,800; his deputy, RM5,400 to RM6,109; state assemblymen, RM3,600 to RM4,600; speaker and exco members RM5,400 to RM6,109 and deputy speaker RM2,700 to RM3,050.

Husam said the increase would be backdated to April 2004.

Opposition chief Datuk Alwi Che Ahmad, in supporting the bill during the debate, said it was the responsibility of all assemblymen and the government to explain to the people that they were not high income earners.

"The people think that we are highly paid and come to us with all their problems. If we are to depend on our salary, we cannot afford to own a suit and car."

Alwi said the tabling of the bill had put assemblymen in a difficult position.

"If we support the bill, people will say, all of you will obviously support it as you will be getting a raise.

"If we do not support it, the burden will be on us. The raise should not be made into an issue."

Datuk Nozula Mat Diah (BN-Paloh) said he had raised the issue of increasing the salary of assemblymen years ago.

"The people do not know how much we are getting.

"They seem to think that all assemblymen have a lot of money when actually we don't and we shoulder a big responsibility."

He said that by right, the assemblymen's salary sho-uld not be hiked only by RM1,000, but maybe by up to RM3,000.