“PMX should just draw all his entitled salaries plus allowances for transparency’s sake”
AS money has become a sensitive staple in the wake of spiralling cost of living which is rather a global phenomenon, perhaps it is perhaps high time now that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim call off his pay cut pledge as both lay Malaysians and opposition politicians do not seem to appreciate his sacrifices.
On the contrary, his so-called generosity only breeds discontent of sorts – at best speculation and slanders of him indulging in a political gimmick. In fact, there is no shame for him to emulate his next-door counterpart Lawrence Wong who tops the list as the highest paid world leader with US$1.69 mil (RM7.27 million) a year.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (holding mic) on critics mocking him for not taking salaries for his PM and Finance Minister posts
According to website PoliticalSalaries.com which compiles data on politician salaries the world over, Wong’s annual income is more than double what the second-ranked Viola Amherd earns as Switzerland’s president – US$570,000 a year.
This thought came about as netizen and anti-corruption freak FreeMalaysian (@FreeMsian) in a post on the X platform has urged Anwar to just accept all entitlements which are due to him.
“Take your salary, even if it is RM100,000 a month x 12 months x 5 years, it will only be RM6 mil but don’t draw up crony contracts that will harm the people up to RM3.2 mil like Bestinet. Cut the drama and deliver the governance (Tatakelola), please.”
“10% of RM3.2 mil is already RM322,000. This can pay a salary of RM100,000/month for 268 years.”
Although it must be clarified that the Bestinet contract was inked during PM8 Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s administration, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has revealed that the extended six-year contract sealed between the government and Bestinet Sdn Bhd for the Foreign Worker Centralised Management System (FWCMS) could cost the government a minimum of RM3.2 bil.
The contract which came into effect from June 1, 2024 and runs till Jan 31, 2031 has increased the government’s payment to Bestinet for each issuance of an online temporary work permit, or ePass by more than double to RM215 from the previous rate of RM100.
On his non-acceptance of salary for his PM and Finance Minister portfolios, Anwar had during his maiden media conference as PM on Nov 24, 2022 described such gesture as the first step to gaining the people’s confidence in his leadership
However, he ticked off critics yesterday (Nov 23) for mocking his decision to refuse salary for his premiership. In response to accusations of political theatrics, he pointed out that he still receives an allowance as the Tambun MP.
“When I said I wouldn’t take the PM’s salary, I was ridiculed. But I do take my MP allowance and Azizah (his wife and Bandar Tun Razak MP Datuk Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail) also gets hers.
“So, when combined, we’re fine – I’m not poor,” PMX who is also the Finance Minister told audience at the Madani government’s second-anniversary celebration in the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC).
Anwar nevertheless did not disclose the total amount of allowances he receives. Previously, Malaysiakini reported that a non-executive Dewan Rakyat member can receive at least RM25,700 in fixed monthly allowance.
This includes RM16,000 in basic monthly allowance and other fixed allowances such as for entertainment and petrol.
Below are some self-explanatory reactions from netizens to the social media post by FreeMalaysian: – Nov 24, 2024
Images credit: Anwar Ibrahim/Facebook
This thought came about as netizen and anti-corruption freak FreeMalaysian (@FreeMsian) in a post on the X platform has urged Anwar to just accept all entitlements which are due to him.
“Take your salary, even if it is RM100,000 a month x 12 months x 5 years, it will only be RM6 mil but don’t draw up crony contracts that will harm the people up to RM3.2 mil like Bestinet. Cut the drama and deliver the governance (Tatakelola), please.”
Ambilah gaji kamu, kalau RM100,000 sebulan x 12 bulan x 5 tahun pun hanya sampai RM6,000,000 sahaja tapi janganlah buat kontrak2 kroni yang merugikan rakyat sampai RM3,200,000,000 macam Bestinet. Cut the drama and deliver the governance (Tatakelola) please.
“10% of RM3.2 mil is already RM322,000. This can pay a salary of RM100,000/month for 268 years.”
Although it must be clarified that the Bestinet contract was inked during PM8 Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s administration, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has revealed that the extended six-year contract sealed between the government and Bestinet Sdn Bhd for the Foreign Worker Centralised Management System (FWCMS) could cost the government a minimum of RM3.2 bil.
The contract which came into effect from June 1, 2024 and runs till Jan 31, 2031 has increased the government’s payment to Bestinet for each issuance of an online temporary work permit, or ePass by more than double to RM215 from the previous rate of RM100.
On his non-acceptance of salary for his PM and Finance Minister portfolios, Anwar had during his maiden media conference as PM on Nov 24, 2022 described such gesture as the first step to gaining the people’s confidence in his leadership
However, he ticked off critics yesterday (Nov 23) for mocking his decision to refuse salary for his premiership. In response to accusations of political theatrics, he pointed out that he still receives an allowance as the Tambun MP.
“When I said I wouldn’t take the PM’s salary, I was ridiculed. But I do take my MP allowance and Azizah (his wife and Bandar Tun Razak MP Datuk Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail) also gets hers.
“So, when combined, we’re fine – I’m not poor,” PMX who is also the Finance Minister told audience at the Madani government’s second-anniversary celebration in the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC).
Anwar nevertheless did not disclose the total amount of allowances he receives. Previously, Malaysiakini reported that a non-executive Dewan Rakyat member can receive at least RM25,700 in fixed monthly allowance.
This includes RM16,000 in basic monthly allowance and other fixed allowances such as for entertainment and petrol.
Below are some self-explanatory reactions from netizens to the social media post by FreeMalaysian: – Nov 24, 2024
Images credit: Anwar Ibrahim/Facebook
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