ALOR STAR, April 6 – The Kedah state government is proposing to raise the salary and allowance of state assemblymen, including the Speaker, Deputy Speaker and Exco members by 50%. In the case of the Menteri Besar, the pay rise sought is 25%. The proposal to raise the salary and allowance of legislators was tabled by the State Industry and Investment, Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumer Affairs Committee chairman Datuk Dr Ku Abdul Rahman Ku Ismail.
“Even though the proposal if passed by the assembly will see a 50% increase in salary for all, the Menteri Besar has requested his pay rise be capped at 25%,” he told the state legislative assembly sitting at Wisma Darulaman here today. He said the proposal if passed by the assembly, would see the salary of state assemblymen rise by 50% from RM4,112 a month at present to RM6,169 a month from next year. The 25 per cent pay hike for the Menteri Besar would see his salary increase to RM17,718 a month from RM14,175 currently, Dr Ku Abdul Rahman said.
He said it was not often a Menteri Besar wanted his salary increase to be reduced compared with what other members were receiving. The salary increase sought for Kedah legislators was deemed appropriate as their last salary review was 11 years ago in 2004, he added. According to him, with the approval of the assembly, the salary of the Speaker would rise by 50% to RM9,163 from RM6,092 a month while the salary of his deputy would increase from RM3,993 to RM5,989.
Meanwhile, the salary of state exco members will rise from RM6,109 a month to RM9,163 a month under the exercise. Dr Ku Abdul Rahman said the salary hike proposal would also involve pension increase for about 51 former members of the assembly, including former Menteris Besar, Speakers, deputy Speakers and exco members.
