The Johor state assembly today approved the Members of the Administration and State Legislative Assemblyperson’s (Remuneration) Enactment 1980 (Amendment 2015) which will see the monthly allowances for 56 Johor state assemblypersons raised from RM5,000 to RM9,000 effective last Jan 1.

The bill was tabled by Menteri Besar Mohamed Khaled Nordin (BN-Permas) and seconded by Education, Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Committee chairperson Md Jais Sarday (BN-Mahkota).

Mohamed Khaled ( left ) said the last remuneration review was in 2009 and a proposal to increase the monthly allowance at a rate equivalent to Grade 54 was proposed by him when tabling the Johor Budget 2015, last Nov 13.

“The increase is not burdensome and can be financed by the state government. Johor had a surplus of RM300 million last year and RM400 million in the previous year.

“So, it is only fair to utilise a small amount of the surplus to increase the remuneration for the assemblymen in the wake of rapid development in Johor,” he said at the Johor state assembly sitting, at Kota Iskandar, Nusajaya, today.

He said comparatively, the increase was not much different from that of Negri Sembilan RM8,954, Sabah (RM7,950), and Perak (RM8,000), in fact it was much lower if compared with RM15,000 in Sarawak and Selangor RM11,250.

According to Mohamed Khaled, among the justifications for the increase in allowance were the important roles and responsibilities played by state assemblypersons in serving the people and country, apart from their legislative duties in ensuring a better community and nation.

“Both are vital roles and if we expect exceptional service but give them meagre rewards, that is being very unfair and unreasonable.

“Most of us forget many professionals out there have very lucrative income. Therefore, I believe the amount proposed is commensurate with their responsibilities and is not excessive,” he said with the backing of the assemblypesons.

The assembly was adjourned to a date to be determined later.

- Bernama