Despite rejecting the same proposal three years ago, Pakatan Rakyat (PR) federal lawmakers said today they now welcome Putrajaya’s plan to increase their allowances, particularly as it comes at a time when living costs have spiked to an all-time high.
One lawmaker from DAP, Klang MP Charles Santiago pointed out that the last salary revision for parliamentarians was as far back as more than a decade ago.
“The cost of maintaining our officers have gone through the roof and we need some kind of support just for our officers and also to get more qualified people to do research and help us in our service centres.
“I think at that time there was the feeling that we can stomach the cost in place but now there is a feeling that it (costs) has completely gone through the roof,” he said referring to PR’s rejection of a similar proposal in 2011.
“And that’s actually hurting our families as well,” he added when approached by Malay Mail Online.
Santiago was referring to the common practice of MPs dipping into their own salaries to pay for work in their constituencies.
He said the current monthly allowance of an MP is RM6,500 and about RM6,000 for other additional expenses, such as a driver and phone bills.
He added that Barisan Nasional (BN) MPs also get an additional development allowance, which opposition lawmakers are not entitled to.
“I think only when we have enough financial resources can we do a better delivery system,” he said.
When approached, PAS’ Pokok Sena MP Datuk Mahfuz Omar concurred with his PR colleague, saying the additional financial aid would help MPs serve their constituents better.
“The (pay) rise is appropriate… Sometimes when we give RM50, RM100 to the people, it’s not enough because cost has gone up with the rise of petrol prices.
“It is fair for the government to consider this but at the same time, the government needs to look at the needs of the people including the high cost of living to help them with reducing oil prices to before and scrap GST,” he said.
Mahfuz said he saw no reason to reject the proposal as the pay hike was more in the interest of voters than the lawmaker.
His PAS colleague, Tumpat MP Kamaruddin Jaafar said the opposition had previously rejected the pay rise proposal because it was “over-politicised” then by Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
“He (Najib) should understand that the concern is not about our salaries and allowances, but facilities to enable us to serve the people.
“It has to be a total package which would enable all MPs to serve their constituents, but this again, is a good move as unlike BN MPs, we do not enjoy certain privileges,” he said.
DAP’s Kota Melaka MP Sim Tong Hin also welcomed the move, saying it was high time that federal lawmakers had their allowances revised.
“I’m not sure if the increment rate is enough to cover all our expenses incurred in our constituency, but this will help us run our service centres and help our constituents,” he said.
- See more at: http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/in-change-of-tune-pakatan-mps-say-pay-hikes-timely-beneficial-to-voters#sthash.VQ23qzcu.dpuf
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