‘PKR supreme council discussed pay hike’
The PKR supreme council chaired by Anwar Ibrahim had discussed the proposed pay hike for Selangor state officials before it was announced, says Elizabeth Wong.
Ikhwan Zulkaflee, FMT
A special PKR supreme council meeting on Nov 22, chaired by party de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim, was informed of the Selangor government’s proposal to increase salaries of the Menteri Besar, the state legislative Speaker and excos, a state exco revealed today.
State Tourism, Consumer Affairs and Environment exco Elizabeth Wong said Anwar was present during the meeting and the matter was not dismissed by the PKR top brass.
“The reaction from the leadership was that it had no objection to the hike and that we have to improve our services and we have to ensure our programmes were carried out,” she told reporters when met at the state legislative lobby here today.
Wong however said she was not sure if PKR deputy president Azmin Ali was present at the meeting as “there was a big turnout for the meeting”.
She also said the exact quantum of the pay hike was not discussed at the special PKR supreme council meeting as the state government did not have the figures then.
Wong admitted that the pay hike figures were shocking but reasonable.
The Selangor state government two days ago announced pay hike for its Menteri Besar from the current RM14,175 to RM29,250 monthly, while the allowance for the Speaker went up from RM6,109 to RM22,500, a month. Elected state assemblymen will also get an allowance revision from the current RM6,000 to RM11,250 a month.
State executive councillors on the other hand will get RM20,250 a month from RM6,109 a month.
The massive pay increase has irked many including Anwar who wanted the state government to explain the hike.
This was followed by Azmin, who is also Bukit Antarabangsa state assemblymen, to question the rationale behind the huge allowance package increase.
The Selangor state government is in the hands of the opposition coalition made up of PAS, PKR and DAP, with PKR taking the lead role.
