VIDEO l 2:20 mins

Selangor Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim has defended the considerable pay increase for state assemblypersons and brushed off Bukit Antarabangsa assemblyperson Azmin Ali's suggestion to delay it.

Speaking to reporters in Shah Alam today, Khalid said the state legislative assembly had approved the salary hike and the decision was final.

NONE Khalid ( right ) said Azmin could donate his increase in salary to charity if he was not happy.

"He may not want it. That's the right of the individual. If (he) doesn't want to take it, (he) can leave it," Khalid said.

Khalid seemed puzzled by Azmin's objection, claiming he didn't know the latter was opposed to the hike.

"It was a consensus agreeement in the state assembly hall from everyone in BN and Pakatan," he said.

He also disagreed with parliamentary Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim's statement that the increase was "quite high".

"It's not quite high. We did not raise the salaries unnecessarily. In fact, the salaries in Malaysia are quite low, compared to what Sarawak pays its lawmakers," Khalid said.

Khalid said the salary of Sarawak's lawmakers were still the highest in the country, but it contributes less than 10 percent of the country's GDP, while Selangor contributes about 25 percent.

"The public will decide if we have performed or not performed," he said, adding there are people who agreed that they get low salaries and deserve more.

'No consultation'

Azmin, who is also Gombak MP, had told reporters at the Parliament lobby today that the pay increases should be shelved because there was no prior consultation.

He said that the amount was "too high" and thus a review would be a "smart" move.

Azmin said that the Selangor Pakatan backbenchers, of whom he is the chairperson, were not consulted on the matter.

“This is about the taxpayers' money, and the concept of Pakatan Rakyat is to always have dialogues. We should have more discussions on this matter,” Azmin said.

He also said that Khalid had only said on Nov 19 that pay hikes would be reviewed.

Azmin also felt it was “too soon” for such a review be done and tabled at the state assembly sitting.

He however admitted that he had not met Khalid personally to express his opinions as he did not have the opportunity.

Azmin however denied that his statement was a form of attack on Khalid’s administration, bearing in mind just a month ago, the backbenchers had sent a memorandum to the MB over the state budget allocations.

“We are not attacking Khalid,” he said, while denying that the backbenchers had lobbied Khalid to raise the pay of assemblypersons.

“We never made such a demand before. Our memorandum has nothing about personal interests,” Azmin claimed.

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