YOURSAY 'Only then will you get professionals who serve the rakyat rather than crooks who serve themselves.'

Anwar says S'gor lawmakers' salary hike 'quite high'

Odin: I fail to see why certain parties begrudge the Selangor lawmakers of their salary increase. I totally disagree that the pay rise of the menteri besar (MB) and the rest of his crew is too high.

One ought not to look at the percentages of the increase but at the quanta of their new salaries. Are their new salaries commensurate with the cost of living and their responsibilities?

If the MB has the highest pay and it is a mere RM29,250 (106% increase), I think it is not only acceptable but it is, in fact, too little. Selangor is not only a state but it is also a pretty sizeable one. He and his colleagues have run the state successfully.

Compare his new salary to that of someone who ran a mere company - unsuccessfully, at that - which was close to half a million ringgit. He and the rest of the lawmakers ought to be paid in amounts that will enable them to pay their domestic bills and to meet their obligations in the course of their serving their constituents.

Now to Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim's quibbling over the increase. According to a certain website, he has millions stashed here, there and everywhere.

If that is a fact, and if he has made the money in an honest way, then perhaps he could teach the lawmakers how to amass millions. Do that, and let their salaries stay stagnant.

Pemerhati: Anwar, the politician, has correctly sensed that the sharp pay hike by Selangor is going to be exploited by BN and would be viewed negatively by the large number of Malaysians who earn comparatively very little.

No doubt, BN cronies like Rozali Ismail of Syabas get paid a mind boggling RM420,000 per month compared to the RM29,500 per month that is proposed for the MB of Selangor, the monopolised BN media will only highlight and sensationalise the issue as The Star has done, by using phrases like, "increases of up to 400%" and "the 106% increase for the Menteri Besar".

No mention will be made of the fact that even though the BN leaders may be getting comparatively modest salaries, they steal billions through corruption.

The politically smart thing to do would have been to give a modest rise and at the same time give various other allowances so that the amount adds up to a reasonably high figure.

Max Chin: I agree with Anwar that the hike in one go is too high even though the raise is back by good performance of the Selangor government. A stage-by-stage increase will be smarter move and more easily accepted by the people.

Wira: How can one get full dedication from elected representatives when their families are not well-fed on an honest pay? The RM3,300 for a deputy speaker is less that what the industry would pay an executive with less than three-year experience.

With that kind of wages, the Adun cannot even afford a medium-cost apartment in the Klang Valley.

For BN, it can supplement the income of these politicians with patronage money. If we follow the BN way, we are doomed.

Loh Chee Kwan: In my opinion, the Selangor MB's salary need not be compared to the PM's. And Selangor Adun's (state assembly representative) need not to compare to the MP's.

There is really no point in paying low for our PM and MPs when such people can't do the job and have to pay outside consultants millions and maybe billions to do the job that they suppose to do.

It is much better if the pay for the Selangor MB and Adun are equivalent or at least not far from the amount that the private sector pays, but on receiving such salaries, they have no excuse to be involved in corruption and more importantly, they shouldn't pay millions to consultants to do their job.

Versey: I honestly think that the prevailing salary for these lawmakers is too low and the salary adjustment is justified.

However, taking into consideration of the level of corporate experience of most of the Aduns, other than MB Khalid, I have reservation over the justification for the percentage of hike for them.

One cannot make a direct comparison with Singapore, at least not until there is change in the federal government, national policy, transformation in the civil service, etc.

Kheng: Reading from the many commentaries in support of the salary increases for the Selangor MB, excos and Aduns, I gather many Selangorians support the increase. I opined the increase is justifiable given the shockingly low remunerations in the past.

Whether this is linked to the rampant corruption in the past administration is for us to ponder further.

If we look at the increases in the context of an annual salary adjustment/increase as practiced in the employment market, then the quantum of percentage increase seemed astronomical.

However, if the increase is a one-off revision to bring the remunerations of the MB, excos and Aduns in line with the corporate sector then I think it is justifiable, albeit BN will exploit the situation to the maximum.

YF: Reward the honest and kick out the crooks. Only then will you get professionals who serve the rakyat rather than crooks who serve themselves. Understand such model of governance as other countries have shown it works.

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