"Are you crazy?"

This was Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz's response to a news report stating that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has called for a pay rise for ministers, deputy ministers and elected representatives.

gobind suspended from parliament 160309 nazri He said this was a ridiculous proposition, especially during an economic downturn.

The minister was commenting on the New Straits Times ' front-page report today that the MACC has deemed the current allowance too low and could lead to graft.

When a reported approached Nazri in Parliament and congratulated him on the 'pay rise', he retorted: "Are you crazy? We are in an economic crisis…people are losing jobs, and we want to give ministers a pay rise?"

He said MACC had called him in the morning to deny the report, which quoted an unnamed senior government official.

"They did not make any statements about this…it is not finalised," he added.

'I don't like this'

Asked if he thought it was a good idea to fight graft, the minister replied: "No, I don't like this."

Ministers and deputy ministers currently earn RM14,907 and RM10,847 respectively, while MPs and state assemblypersons receive monthly allowances of RM6,508 and RM3000 respectively.

Those appointed as executive councillors receive an extra RM3,500 each. Executive councillors are also entitled to RM1000 and RM2000 in housing and entertainment allowances.

MPs and state representatives are also allocated development funds worth RM1 million an RM500,000 respectively each year.

Meanwhile, MACC also issued a statement this evening denying the report.

"MACC would like to stress that it never released any statements regarding this since studies on the proposal are still being carried out," it stated.

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