VIDEO l 2:28 mins

The pay hike for Selangor state lawmakers is "quite high", Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim said today.

Speaking to reporters at the Parliament lobby, Anwar said using example of the Sarawak state government in this matter would not justify such a rise in salaries.

"This is higher than what was speculated," Anwar said, while urging Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim to explain to the media the reasons behind the hike.

syed husin ali book launch 031113 Meanwhile, Senator Syed Husin Ali ( right ) also queried the hike, stating that the increase in salary was just too high.

“I agree (with the salary hike) if the salaries for the MB, exco and assemblypersons were raised a little bit. But I do not understand why the raise is so high,” the former PKR deputy president said in a Twitter posting today.

“I agree with the raise, and also in Parliament (for MPs). But I told the MB that the increase is high and he has to explain his reasons to Pakatan,” Anwar said.

However, Anwar denied that the pay hike was the result of lobbying by the Selangor Pakatan backbenchers who have urged the MB to start spending the state reserves.

Under the new pay scheme approved by the state legislative assembly yesterday, the Selangor menteri besar, exco members, assemblypersons, the speaker and her deputy will receiving a salary increase ranging from 87 to 373 percent.

The deputy speaker is slated to get the highest increase, from RM3,327 to RM15,750 a month, while menteri besar has the highest pay of RM29,250 on a 106 percent hike.

Assemblypersons will receive RM11,250 a month, up from the current RM6,000 a month.

The pay hike will come into effect on Jan 1, 2014.

Related stories

MB to Azmin: Take it or leave it!

BN leaders: Pay hike must be reasonable

Taxpayers paying for BN 'parliament coordinators'

Salary hike to stop lawmakers going for extra income

Hisham: Selangor gov't more interested in its own welfare

Selangor speaker defends salary, says no diamonds