Rakyat’s King
His Majesty was moved by Malaysians donating to Tabung Harapan, says palace official
Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Muhammad V, in solidarity with the people, is taking a 10% cut in salary and emoluments.
PETALING JAYA: Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Muhammad V (pic) has shown solidarity with the people by taking a 10% cut in salary and emoluments.
“This is because the King is concerned with the debt and the economic situation of the country,” Comptroller of the Royal Household Datuk Wan Ahmad Dahlan Haji Ab Aziz said yesterday.
He said in a statement that His Majesty was touched and appreciated the efforts of Malaysians who have donated to the Tabung Harapan.
Wan Ahmad said that in line with this, Sultan Muhammad V also decreed that he would not be hosting the annual Hari Raya open house this year.
He said the King preferred that the budget allocation for the event be channelled to the needy.
The Tabung Harapan fund was set up by the Government on June 1 after many Malaysians expressed their desire to help the country reduce its national debt of RM1 trillion.
Collections for the fund will cease on Aug 31 with the amount now at RM56.7mil.
Meanwhile, DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang called on Barisan Nasional leaders to contribute to the fund for the betterment of the country.
He said all 42 DAP MPs would each donate RM5,000 to the fund.
“Malaysians from different ethnic backgrounds and religious beliefs have contributed to the fund to show their love for the country,” Lim, who is the Iskandar Puteri MP, told reporters before receiving a mock cheque for RM1mil for the fund from Amin Dental Surgery proprietor Dr Amim Sarnon at its Taman Universiti dental clinic in Johor Baru.
Dr Amim said the donation was his clinic’s contribution towards the all-out effort to reduce the national debt.
Human Resources Minister M. Kulasegaran also received a cheque for RM100,000 for the fund from the Sri Thandayuthapani Temple management in Jalan Ipoh, Kuala Lumpur.
“At first, I did not take it that seriously.
“I thought they wanted me to donate to them, not the other way around.
“This is the first temple to donate, to the best of my knowledge,” Kulasegaran said.