Selangor Mentri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim says he will be the first to back a pay increase for Members of Parliament, if Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak puts forth such a proposal.

NONE Khalid, who is also the MP for Bandar Tun Razak, was quoted by Berita Harian today as saying that such a move would be timely.

His comment followed criticism last week of the increasing of the salaries pf Selangor state leaders and assemblypersons by up to 373 percent.

Khalid has justified the pay rise as a means to stop lawmakers from looking elsewhere for extra income .

'Pakatan enriching itself'

"I feel that the federal government also needs to raise the pay and allowance of the Mps.

" Previously, the opposition alliance protested such a move but I think if the PM proposes again, I will also back it," Khalid is quoted as telling reporters after Selangor state assembly sitting yesterday.

Najib on Sunday openly criticised Pakatan Rakyat for being "hypocritical" over the pay rise for the Selangor assemblypersons.

He said Pakatan had objected to his proposal two years ago for bigger allowances for Mps, saying it was the champion of the people's interests.

The salary hike for Selangor elected representatives move raised doubts as to whether Pakatan leaders were just enriching themselves , Najib said.