Khalid defends salary hikes for Selangor reps
SHAH ALAM: Selangor reps criticising the salary hike can choose not to accept it, or donate their pay to charity, said Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim.
"Anyone who disagrees or is not happy with the new salary adjustment can donate it to someone, or choose to not take their salaries.
"The decision (to increase salaries) has been decided upon at the House,” Khalid told reporters at the lobby Thursday.
Khalid, was responding to Bukit Antarabangsa assemblyman Azmin Ali's statement, asking the state government to delay the decision to give out the new salaries.
Earlier, Azmin, who is also Gombak MP, told reporters at the Parliament lobby that the increase in salaries was made without prior consultation.
It was reported that PKR advisor Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said that the increase in salaries was higher than expected.
To this, Khalid said the new salary structure was based on that of the Sarawak state government.
However, he said that the quantum of increase was less than their Sarawak counterparts.
He added that the Sarawak Chief Minister's salary was RM39,000 a month compared to his RM29,250.
Under the new salary structure, assemblymen's salaries will be upped 87% from RM6,000 to RM11,250 a month, the Speaker from RM6,109.29 to RM22,500 (268%), and the Deputy Speaker from RM3,327.50 to RM15,750 (373%).
The salary of exco members will go up 231% from RM6,109.29 to RM20,250 while the Mentri Besar will have a pay rise of 106.4% from RM14,175 to RM29,250.
The new salary scale will be implemented on Jan 1, 2014.