PAS deputy trots out 16 ways Putrajaya can offset rising living costs

(Malay Mail Online) – Riding on public sentiment, PAS deputy president Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man rolled out today a 16-point guide for Putrajaya to consider to better help Malaysians cope with rising living costs, including taking a 20 per cent salary cut.

The opposition politician said Deputy International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Ahmad Maslan’s suggestion for Malaysians to take on two jobs to cope with higher spending exposed the worsening economic climate domestically, and urged government leaders to set an example.

“For PAS, before suggesting ways for the rakyat to overcome the economic crisis, it’s better for the Umno-led government to look into the mirror first and take immediate action to reduce the government’s ‘living costs’,” Tuan Ibrahim said in a statement.

“The rakyat must be freed from supporting a ‘high maintenance’ government because of the leaders’ wasteful and uneconomical spending,” he added.

At the top of his list was a call for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to take an axe to his 37-man Cabinet.

“Ministers and Deputy Ministers who often give controversial suggestions can be dismissed so that the government’s operating expenditure can be reduced,” the PAS man said.

He also proposed a 20 per cent salary cut for both ministers and their deputies “so they can understand the bitterness of looking for other revenues by working #2kerja”.

Among his other proposed cuts for the government include removing food and travel allowances for ministers, deputies and senior civil servants, adding that the officials could just fly economy class.

Tuan Ibrahim also urged a review to the “insanely large” allocations for the Prime Minister’s Department by reducing the number of contracted staff and channeling their expenses into the education sector; terminating overlapping agencies and its appointed special envoys.