The Perak government has agreed to consider increasing the allowance of 59 Perak state assemblypersons who received the lowest compared to their counterparts in other states.

Menteri Besar Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir said the last allowance raise for Perak assemblypersons was 10 percent on Jan 1, 2004.

“This (raise in assemblypersons’ allowance) is a good idea,” he said in reply to a question from Sum Cheok Leng (DAP-Bercham) at the state assembly sitting in Ipoh today.

Sum questioned whether the allowance received by Perak assemblypersons was still much lower than that received by other state assemblypersons, and proposed an increase to the state government.

Zambry said the comparison in monthly allowances received by state assemblypersons were as follows: RM7,300 (Sabah), RM7,500 (Johor), RM5,400 (Kedah), RM8,200 (Kelantan), RM6,012 (Penang), RM8,500 (Pahang), RM9,700 (Selangor), RM7,500 (Sarawak), RM6,000 (Terengganu) and RM7,730 (Malacca).

He said Perak assemblypersons received RM5,912 each which comprises RM4,112 for services, RM400 entertainment allowance, RM400 chauffeur allowance, RM200 permanent allowance, RM300 telephone allowance and special allowance of RM500.

In response to a question from Su Keong Siong (DAP-Pasir Pinji), Zambry said a committee has been formed to study all aspects discussed at the sitting.

    

“This includes the allowance increase and appointment of five to 10 research officers to ensure the smooth flow of state assembly sittings as brought up by the two assemblypersons,” he said.

- Bernama