Keeping his word, PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli has revealed his assets and expenditure while taking a potshot at the prime minister’s wife by stating that his haircut only costs RM10.

Based on his disclosure, the Pandan lawmaker's move from a comfortable GLC job to politics appears to be burning a hole in his pocket.

He is incurring a loss of RM5,550 a month and the shortfall is funded through credit cards and withdrawals from his fixed deposit accounts.

Rafizi's net income as a MP is RM11,1710. He also earns RM4,000 a month in interest from Tabung Haji and Amanah Saham Bhd, as well as RM3,000 as a corporate consultant.

He also declared that he has RM1.56 million in net assets and RM395,937 in debts.

Rafizi's made the statutory declaration following a challenge by Cheras Umno division chief Syed Ali Alhabshee for Pakatan Rakyat MPs to come clean on their wealth.

The dare was issued after Pakatan leaders questioned Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's wealth, which has been attributed to inheritance.

As for Rafizi revealing the cost of his haircut, this was an obvious jab at Najib's wife Rosmah Mansor, who courted a controversy when she complained about hairstylists charging RM1,200 for home service.

Hoping to set a good example

Meanwhile, Rafizi said he hopes to set a good example by declaring his assets.

"I was driven by my conscience and I want to set things right. Hopefully, I will set a trend for public officials to follow," he told Malaysiakini .

Asked if he found the transition to politics difficult, the 38-year-old former Petronas senior manager, who hails from Terengganu, said he does not regret the move.

"I grew up in a working class family and was raised not to pay too much attention to wealth.

"I didn't have to adjust much of my lifestyle after joining politics because I led a rather cheapskate life even before.

"I don't think about the loss of income much because you need to look forward and not sulk over what you leave behind," he added.

Rafizi said he was fortunate to have earned a good salary during his younger days in Petronas, but it was his yearning for freedom that led him to where he is today.

"Somehow freedom has always been an issue, so it was only natural to leave a good career for public service," he added.

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