PARLIAMENT The government has no plan to cut 25 percent off the salaries of ministers and top civil servants as part of austerity measures to cut public spending, it said in a parliamentary written answer today.

The question was posed to the finance minister yesterday by BN's Gua Musang MP Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, who asked whether the government would set an example for the private sector to cut spending and to save more money.

"At the moment, the government does not plan to cut 25 percent from the salaries of ministers and allowances for top civil servants because the matter needs a deeper study," the Finance Ministry said in its written answer.

PKR's Kapar MP Manivannan Gowin ( left ), in revealing the written answer, asked if the government was really conducting a study on the matter or was merely espousing rhetoric.   

"What is the status of this study and how long is needed to finish this study?" Manivannan asked during a press conference at the Parliament lobby.

He said that he was "shocked" with the answer given by the ministry because it should be "more sensitive" to the people and the financial realities for the country.

"Their refusal is seen as an unfair act by the government in sharing the burden of the people who are being burdened with high living costs," he said.