KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 26 ― The federal government today tabled a Bill to increase the monthly allowance of federal lawmakers to RM11,000 from the existing basic of RM6,508.59.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim tabled the amendment to the Members of Parliament (Remuneration) Act 1980 for the first reading in Parliament today.
As for senators, under the proposed amendment, their allowance is to go up by RM4,112.79 to RM7,000.
Meanwhile, the monthly salaries of the president of the Dewan Negara and Dewan Rakyat speaker is to go up from RM14,907.20 to RM20,000.
As for the deputy president of the senate and the deputy speaker of the house of representatives’, the federal government has proposed their salaries to be increased from RM10,847.65 to RM16,000.
According to the Bill, the government will incur an extra financial expenditure of RM14.8 million per annum.
The last amendment to the federal lawmakers’ allowance was a mere increase of RM700 more than a decade ago in 2002.
It was again proposed in 2011, but shelved amid fierce opposition over the suggested quantum.
Putrajaya announced an increase to allowances for the country’s 222 federal lawmakers and 70 senators in Budget 2015, apart from pledging to review the salary schemes of its administrative members, including that of the prime minister, his deputy and all other ministers.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said during the tabling of Budget 2015 that the MPs’ allowances would be increased from the equivalent Grade 54 to the equivalent Grade Jusa C, while senators’ allowances would be increased from the equivalent Grade 48 to the equivalent between Grade 54 and Jusa C.
The Public Service Premier Post (Jusa) is the premium grade position for very senior positions in the civil service.
Meanwhile Grades 41 to 54 are for management and professional positions in the civil service.
According to a 2013 circular by the Civil Service Department, the minimum pay for the Jusa C level is RM7,189.63.
The salaries and allowances will be raised effective January 1 next year.