No hike in MPs’ allowance

KUALA LUMPUR: There will be no increase in the allowances of the 222 MPs as envisaged under Budget 2012, said Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz.

“I am withdrawing the proposal immediately,” Nazri, who is in charge of Parliament, said at Parliament lobby yesterday.

Nazri withdrew the Government's proposal for the extra RM30mil, citing objections from the Opposition that claimed “it was not the right time” for the revision.

The objections came from Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, PKR deputy president Azmin Ali and PAS vice-president Salahuddin Ayub.

“They are bigwigs and speak for their party,” said Nazri. “So, I will take this as a no' to the allowance.”
Salahuddin sits on the 14-member committee, which comprises Barisan, Opposition and independent MPs, tasked with looking into the matter.

Nazri said the committee had found that Malaysian MPs made the least amount in monthly allowances compared with their Singaporean, Indonesian and Thai counterparts.
“Our MPs' monthly wage is RM6,500,” he said.
“In Singapore, an MP makes RM33,589, RM18,111 in Indonesia and up to RM12,500 in Thailand.
“They use this allowance to hire researchers and pay rental for their service centres.
“Why should they pay out of their own pockets to serve their constituents?
“The MPs needs have been factored in when considering this allowance,” he added.

Anwar said it was not wise to increase the allowance at this point considering the current economic downturn, but he would reconsider the proposal and their objection if “it is for assistants and researchers”.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak had announced in his Budget 2012 speech last Friday that the proposal for the allowance would be passed provided all parties agreed to a quantum.

source:http://archives.thestar.com.my/search/?q=MP+elaun