MUAR MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman had given Malaysians more insight into the perks of being ministers and lawmakers when debating the 12th Malaysian Plan in the Dewan Rakyat on Sept 29.
According to the lawmaker, ministers are granted gratuity of up to RM2 mil upon their resignation regardless of the period spent in the position.
This is on top of their monthly salary of about RM55,000 a month, and on top of that, ministers also get an official residence in Putrajaya, a plot of land in the federal administrative capital, a driver, and a holiday allowance of more than RM100,000 a year.
“If a politician has served four to five terms as an MP, even if he becomes a minister for one day, his gratuity can be more than RM1 mil,” he said.
The former youth and sports minister further pointed out that politicians also enjoy a rather lucrative pension scheme as a lawmaker, as well as for each position he holds in Federal and state governments.
If an individual has served in multiple posts in the past, for example, this could even grant him a pension of more than RM100,000 a month.
Syed Saddiq went on to point out that pensions of politicians are very attractive, and this may incentivise them to maintain their lucrative positions despite having served for decades.
He explained that there are separate pensions for assemblymen, MPs, senators, speakers, deputy ministers, ministers and the prime minister.
This meant that an MP who previously served as an assemblyman as well as held a ministerial position would be entitled to the separate pension entitlements.
“If you were to combine the different entitlements, the amount could exceed RM100,000 per month, especially if the person has served in several different capacities.
The news had prompted an outpour of disbelief and anger from netizens who had flooded to social media to air their views.
“I am in total shock. I’ve known that [their salaries are] high. But this much? Many others are more qualified and need the money more. Considering that the money belongs to the rakyat, is the money halal? And holiday allowances, too? This is too much. Why would anyone go on holidays using the rakyat’s money? I don’t see a reason why,” said user @FarzanFadh.
User @reviewstuffs pointed out that the money paid in salary, allowances and pensions could easily be used to help the rakyat.
User @azmizmr, meanwhile, pointed out that when politicians receive hefty salaries, their responsibilities start to slide.
“When it’s time for general elections, they will be busy showing face and putting up flyers and posters. Once they have won, there’s silence. How many [of these politicians] are actually doing their job?” he questioned.
User @akzuraif stressed that all these nonsense must stop. “No wonder everybody is trying so hard to be a minister and remain as a minister [despite their lacklustre performance],” he tweeted. – Sept 30, 2021
