Budget 2015: MPs' pay hike are not the same level as civil servants - Assemblymen

The Public Service Premier Post (Jusa) is the premium grade position for very senior ranks in the civil service.

Several MPs have unanimously expressed one concern, pledging the rakyat to not confuse a MP with a civil servant with the impending MP salary schemes.

Mersing MP Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad said the position of a lawmaker -- who was chosen by the rakyat -- is categorically different than a civil servant's.

He said the increment in allowance was given because each MP carries the huge responsibility to serve the rakyat in their respective constituencies.

"The grading does not mean the rank of a civil servant and a MP is the same as a civil servant as the similarity lies in terms of allowances.

Abdul Latiff said that the rakyat should understand the the role of a MP as he or she carries out the task to serve them (the rakyat).

"There will always be people who come to ask for money to pay their house rentals or electricity bills," he said.

"The allowance isn't just to cover his own well-being but the rakyat's too. The present amount MPs get is definitely not enough," he told Astro AWANI.

Abdul Latiff said it was necessary to have a dedicated allocation for MPs to pay the salaries for their research officers or drivers, as opposed to the MPs paying their salaries out of their own pockets.

"The increased allowances will be used to aide the people. It's also good to have special allocation for the research officers and drivers," he added.

Bukit Katil MP, Shamsul Iskandar Md Akin echoes his sentiments, saying that every MPs require full-time research officers who are signed on to each MP on full-time basis.

He said a good research officer needs to be paid accordingly as their primary responsibilities of the job include outlining, writing speeches, articles, policy papers and party briefs undertaking relevant political research and analysis distributing information in a variety of formats advising and liaising with MPs, related agencies and parliamentary advisers as well as undertaking a wide range of administrative tasks.

Shamsul also stated that a MP allowance should also incorporate fees for usage of service centres largely used to carry out their daily duties.

"The special allocation for the service centre and research officers is important as it will help the MP with administration duties,"

Pokok Sena MP Datuk Mahfuz Omar said the increment is timely.

"It's a reasonable move as requested by backbenchers as they can feel the burden, but imagine our sentiments from the Opposition," said Mahfuz, adding that he has no inclination of how much MPs from the Opposition will be paid.

Kota Bharu MP Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan said the increment of the allowances is reasonable and befitting to those from Pakatan Rakyat.

This was because in the past, Pakatan MPs were not given any special allocation unlike Barisan Nasional MPs enjoyed.

"It is very apt for the allowance to be increased because it will be used to help people. For us, everything had to come from our own pockets.

"Right now, 25 per cent of our allowances are ato the party while some go to the service centres," he said.

On Friday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak announced that all 222 MPs will be given an increment of allowances, effective January 1.

The Dewan Rakyat Speakers and Dewan Negara Speakers -- along with their deputies will be paid their salary and allowance increments.