‘Azmin, Khalid fighting over personal interests’
SPLIT DOWN THE MIDDLE: Pay hike was merely an excuse to brawl, says academic
(NST) – SELANGOR PKR is heading towards a deep split, with party deputy president and Bukit Antarabangsa assemblyman Azmin Ali likely to begin clamouring to oust Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim.
Independent economic macro-analyst Prof Dr Hoo Ke Ping said Azmin’s “fight” against Khalid on the state government’s recent salary and allowance increases for lawmakers was merely a reason for him to strengthen his position.
“The duo are fighting over personal interest and this salary hike is only an excuse.”
Speaking about the pay hike, he said the hike disregarded the sensitivity of the people.
He added that the money could have been used to give out scholarships for students in Selangor or to solve the frequent flooding incidents in the state.
“The money could have been used for the benefit of the people and the nation instead of for leaders who do not see eye to eye.”
The Selangor legislative assembly had, on Wednesday, approved pay cheque increases of 106 per cent for Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim and increases of 373 per cent for the speaker, deputy speaker (268 per cent), state assemblymen (87.5 per cent) and exco members (231 per cent).
Political analyst, Associate Professor Dr Sivamurugan Pandian, said the unprecedented salary hike should not have happened, especially without a consensus.
“There was no consensus reached on the hike. Before the implementation, there should have been a consultation session,” Sivamurugan of Universiti Sains Malaysia told the New Straits Times yesterday.
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Social Science and Humanities Faculty lecturer Associate Professor Datuk Dr Samsul Adabi Mamat said the setback to the high pay hike was that no research was done and the hike was implemented quickly .
“Even pay hikes for public servants are done in stages and not in one shot.
“If the pay hike was done together with the state’s public servants, then there may be a rationale (behind the hike).”
He said it showed that the state government was greedy, but added that there might be a political conflict brewing, as Pakatan de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had also expressed his disagreement over the issue.
1Malaysia Foundation chairman Dr Chandra Muzaffar, who also found the pay hike too exorbitant, said the hike was untimely, as the people were feeling the pinch from the rising cost of living.
“When ordinary people are struggling to make ends meet, I think this hefty pay hike is unreasonable.”
It was reported that Khalid had directed his displeasure at Azmin, telling him to either take the new salary or donate it, adding that the increment was considered “low and reasonable”.
