THE Finance Ministry has come out to refute a viral news that former Permatang Pauh MP Nurul Izzah Anwar was a paid adviser to one of its agencies, the Economic Stimulus Implementation and Coordination Unit Between National Agencies (LAKSANA).
This has helped to quell raging rumours that the Prime Minister’s ‘jobless’ daughter was a beneficiary of a Ministry also headed by her father – and allegedly pocketing a hefty monthly pay cheque of RM35,000 for three days of work a week.
In its social media platforms, the Finance Ministry has clarified that the PKR vice-president was working pro bono.
Hantaran di media sosial yang tular mendakwa Puan Nurul Izzah Anwar dibayar sebagai Penasihat kepada Agensi Pelaksanaan Ekonomi dan Koordinasi Strategik Nasional (LAKSANA) adalah fitnah semata-mata. pic.twitter.com/9y3gmbLjvi
— Ministry of Finance🇲🇾 (@MOFmalaysia) February 14, 2024
The optics of having a leader continuing to serve the King and country despite having lost in the 15th General Election (GE15) is certainly in stark contrast from the widespread public perceptions that politicians are only there to fatten their wallets and have their inflated egos massaged.
It’s easy for the public to fall for the old “national service” drivel at a time when Malaysians are increasingly disillusioned with politicians from both sides of the divide.
But is “not taking any salary” something Malaysians should hold in high regard, especially among those who walk in our corridors of power?
We often forget that politicians – just like the rest of us – have bills to pay, too. In fact, due to the nature of their jobs, their financial commitments are much heavier than those of us who vote them in.
That being the case, how are they going to balance their bank accounts with zero income and possibly a fast-depleting savings? How do we know that they will not succumb to the temptation of wielding their influence for financial gains?
If they were already financially well-off before this, where did the money come from? In Nurul Izzah’s case, she was an MP between 2008 and 2022. Currently, a Federal legislator’s monthly take-home pay is about RM25,000, inclusive of allowances.
While the amount may be a lot for most Malaysians, it’s really a pittance for an MP as the amount may also be used to pay salaries for staff, running their service centres and the endless stream of financial requests from constituents.
Incidentally, her PM father Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is also not taking any salary since assuming power in late 2022. Is Anwar dipping deep into his savings to get by since he’s been a politician for far longer than his daughter?
Even if Anwar – or any politician who works for “national service” – stays on the straight and narrow path, there’d still be lingering doubts from the public if there’s more to it than meets the eye.
The fact is that we are so accustomed to the idea that there’s no such thing as a free lunch even if these politicians meant well.
In this respect, one just needs to take a leaf from Singapore, a country with an impeccable track record in fighting corruption. The country pays politicians top dollars to draw the best brains, hence lessening the temptations of having their palms greased.
So, it’s time for us to stop pedestalising the idea of “national service”. At best, it’s a concept that elicits public doubts and raises questions of transparency. At worst, it opens doors for one to put his or her hands into the cookie jar. – Feb 17, 2024
Main pic credit: Berita Harian
