In times of hardship, a country’s top leaders may sometimes have to show solidarity with citizens who’re struggling.
Taking a pay cut is one way to do so.
To that end, ministers in the Cabinet of new Malaysian Prime Minister (PM) Anwar Ibrahim have agreed to take a 20% pay cut.
Source: Anwar Ibrahim on Facebook
This will last until Malaysia’s economy recovers.
Mr Anwar chaired his first Cabinet meeting on Monday (5 Dec), just days after he unveiled his Cabinet line-up last Friday.
After the meeting, he posted on Facebook that his ministers had unanimously agreed to a 20% pay cut.
This would be in effect as long as the economy continues to slow down and decline.
Source: Anwar Ibrahim on Facebook
This was what he’d pledged in his campaign during the recent General Election, he noted.
Mr Anwar elaborated on the pay cut in a press conference after the meeting, saying it would be a monthly commitment, the Malay Mail quoted him as saying.
He also said that the Cabinet had agreed to this “in the spirit of concern with the plight of the people”.
While it’s “inappropriate” to cut their salaries, he appreciated his ministers’ sacrifice.
Source: Anwar Ibrahim on Facebook
As for the time frame of the pay cut, he confirmed that it would be until the economy recovers, adding,
If the economy recovers in three years, then we will review.
Mr Anwar also referred to one of his election campaign promises, where he said he wouldn’t take a salary when he became PM.
As he’d appointed himself as Finance Minister, some people had apparently insinuated that he would get the Finance Minister’s salary even if he didn’t get the PM’s salary.
This is wrong, he said in his Facebook post.
There’s only one salary scheme, he added, meaning he will decline both the PM and Finance Minister’s salaries.
The monthly salary of the Malaysian PM is S$7,088 (RM22,826.65), according to the Malay Mail, which quoted the latest Members of Parliament (Remuneration) Act 1980.
A deputy PM makes S$5,640 (RM18,168.15) a month, while a Cabinet minister gets S$4,628 (RM14,907.20).
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Featured image adapted from Anwar Ibrahim on Facebook.
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