Agong cuts pay by 10%, cancels Raya open house
FMT Reporters | June 11, 2018
Sultan Muhammad V is moved by the generosity of the people in contributing to the Tabung Harapan to help reduce the country’s debts.
Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Muhammad V, wants the allocation for the Hari Raya open house at Istana Negara to be used to help the needy. (Bernama pic)
PETALING JAYA: The Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Muhammad V, has decreed that his salary and emolument payments be reduced by 10% until the end of his term in 2021.
In a statement today, Comptroller of the Royal Household Wan Ahmad Dahlan Abdul Aziz said the king was concerned over the national debt and the country’s economic situation.
“His Majesty is extremely moved and expresses appreciation to Malaysians who have generously contributed to the Tabung Harapan that has been established by the government recently,” Wan Ahmad Dahlan said.
He said Sultan Muhammad had also ordered Istana Negara not to hold its usual Hari Raya open house this year.
He said the estimated allocation for the event should be used to help those in need.
Contributions to Tabung Harapan, launched on May 30, stood at RM54.89 million as of June 9.
Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng said yesterday that the fund was launched on the people’s’ initiative to lend support to the government after knowing that the nation’s debt had reached RM1 trillion.
He said the government would appoint an external audit firm to ensure transparency in the management
