10% pay cut for ministers
> Tun M: We want to show we’re concerned with country’s financial woes
PUTRAJAYA: All ministers in the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government will take a 10% pay cut immediately to reduce government expenditure, Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said yesterday. “It is a habit of mine. “When I assumed the premiership in 1981, I did the same thing, which was to slash the salaries of ministers.
“The Cabinet has agreed for the salary to be slashed by 10%. It shows we are concerned with the country’s financial problem,” he told reporters after chairing the first PH Cabinet meeting.
The pay cut will be made on the ministers’ basic salaries, he said.
Mahathir said there are several highranking government officials who enjoy better pay than Cabinet members.
However, he said the government will not cut their salaries. “If they want to contribute towards (reducing) the cost in running the country, they can do so. But we are not forcing (them to take a pay cut).”
In addition to salary cuts, Mahathir also announced the disbandment of several government agencies including the Malaysian Professors Council (MPN), Special Affairs Department (Jasa) and the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD), whose task will be taken over by the Transport Ministry.
“The government does not really need these agencies as there have been cases where the (previous) government had spent money just to provide opportunities for its supporters.
“Many agencies will be disbanded but we will ensure those (working there) who are earning lower salaries are not be affected.
“These agencies will be dissolved. Whether it will be renamed under another entity remains uncertain,” he said.
Mahathir said the Federal Village Development and Safety Committee (JKKP) will also be scrapped.
He said the committee was seen as an “additional government” within the states that were not owned by the government.
“All of this will be dropped. JKKP will be dropped as there is too much political influence there.
“We have government officers who can play the role (of JKKP),” he said.
On the downsizing of 17,000 political appointees, Mahathir said all of them will first be terminated from their services before the government re-engages those who are essential such as low-income earners.
On the previous government’s promise to increase civil servants’ pay, Mahathir said the current government is not bound by it.
“We are looking at that. It is a promise made by the Opposition. They lost the election.
“Nevertheless, we will look at it in a very positive way – where they deserve to be given some extra allowance we will do so.”
Mahathir also stressed the government has no intention of buying back Proton from Geely. “It belongs to (Tan Sri) Syed Mokhtar (Al-Bukhary).
“It’s up to him whether he wants to buy it back or not. The government does not intend to buy it back,” he said.
Describing the Cabinet meeting as wonderful, he said he is looking to have 12 more Cabinet posts in the soonest time. “Everyone contributed (at the meeting). “I allowed them to speak to show that I am not a dictator,” he quipped.