Cut salaries, allowances of MPs voluntarily, no need to propose - Shahidan Kassim

KANGAR: The proposal to cut the salaries or allowances of Members of the Dewan Rakyat, including ministers, can only be done without having to bring a motion to Parliament.

On the other hand, Arau Member of Parliament, Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim said, the deduction of between 10 to 20 per cent can be made voluntarily and as an awareness from each member to help the people.

The chairman of the Perikatan Nasional Government Supporters Club (PNBBC) said he personally did the same thing by cutting the allowance he received.

The money from the deduction was used by him to help the residents in the areas around the state of Perlis.

According to Shahidan, the matter does not have to wait to be brought to the Dewan Rakyat, instead, every elected representative can start from now on to cut salaries and allowances to help the people.

"I suggest it should be done voluntarily, if you want to make a decision like that (in Parliament) there may be people who do not want to do it voluntarily, there are also those who want to (cut) five per cent, half the people (elected representatives) want to share 10 pe rcent, want to share 20 per cent… it is up to you.

“For now while waiting for any decision, (give) voluntarily, to give alms for the sake of Allah.

"Some people do not want to deduct (salary or allowance) because it is not enough to spend in their area," explained Shahidan.

He said this when met at the launch of UMNO Malaysia and state flood relief at the Kubang Gajah Service Centre, here today.

The team was deployed to flood-affected areas in Pahang, Kelantan and Johor to carry out post-flood work.

Recently, there was an issue of emolument deduction, namely the salaries or allowances of members of the Dewan Rakyat and members of the Dewan Negara cannot be implemented during the Emergency Proclamation phase due to violating the administrative laws of Parliament.

The matter was emphasized by the Speaker of the Senate, Senator Tan Sri Dr Rais Yatim who said, any deduction of member emoluments should be proposed in their respective chambers for approval or rejection due to the amendment to the act.

According to Rais, the insistence of some parties that the salaries and allowances of Members of Parliament and Senators be deducted because they do not sit is deemed irrelevant as they still provide services even during emergencies.