MTUC: RM85,000 pay too much

PETALING JAYA: The Penang division of the Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) has expressed shock over Transport Minister Anthony Loke’s revelation that the executive chairman of the Malaysian Aviation Commission (Mavcom) Jen (Rtd) Tan Sri Abdullah Ahmad is paid a monthly salary of RM85,000.

MTUC Penang secretary K. Veeriah said the public is wondering how much is paid to heads of bodies such as the Land Public Transport Commission and the Election Commission.

“Such inappropriate rates of pay is a complete waste of the country’s financial resources. We think it is immoral and devoid of any justification,” Veeriah was quoted as saying.

However, MTUC president Datuk Abdul Halim Mansor criticised the divulging of Abdullah’s pay amount.

He said such confidential information should not be made public as it is part of agreed terms in job contracts for heads of government-linked companies (GLCs), who are paid on two-year contracts.

Bursa Malaysia listing rules require the disclosure of GLC directors’ remuneration packages in annual reports.

“Opening for public scrutiny the terms of a contract, is unreasonable. For instance, the (heads of) Petronas, Telekom Malaysia, which are all GLCs, may have higher salaries than RM85,000 in their contracts,” he said.

“It is not whether we agree or disagree with the amount, but about the way it was disclosed to the public. I feel this is not right.”