A Barisan Nasional (BN) backbencher mocked the media for giving prominent coverage to the 'earth shaking'10 percent salary hike for parliamentarians and ministers, which according to him is far from sufficient.

"(We) want to accept it, (but) it's too little, if (we) don't accept it, people will say (we are) proud," Mohamed Aziz (BN-Sri Gading) told the Dewan Rakyat today.

He said the huge responsibility borne by parliamentarians does not commensurate with the salary received.

Agreeing was Badruddin Amirrudin (BN-Jerai), who said that sometimes MPs don't have enough money.

"If there is no RM300 or RM400, I don't dare go back to my constituency," he stressed.

Emphasising on the huge responsibilities they shoulder, the MP said he hoped their services would be acknowledged and the people will look up to them as 'heroes who fight for our race'.

Greater number of politicians

Empathising with the parliamentarians was Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz.

However he explained that MPs in certain countries such as Hong Kong and Singapore, whose salaries are based on private sector rates, were getting paid higher as there were less individuals in the political arena compared to Malaysia.

All ministers and members of parliament will receive the 10 percent hike in their salaries and allowances under the amendment to the Members of Parliament (Remuneration) Act tabled in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday.

The prime minister, deputy prime minister, cabinet ministers, deputy ministers, parliamentary secretaries, MPs, senators, the president and deputy president of Dewan Negara, the speaker and deputy speaker of Dewan Rakyat, as well as the Opposition Leader will benefit from the new scheme, should it come into effect.

Under the new rate, MPs will receive RM6,508.59 from the present RM5,916.90 .

Scrap parliamentary secretary post

Meanwhile, Mohamed Aziz suggested that the position of parliamentary secretaries be abolished and replaced with more deputy ministers.

He said this would allow the designating of specific duties in dealing with parliamentary affairs.

At present, he noted that parliamentary secretaries are in a gray area between ministers and parliamentarians.

He said they contribute much to the government and therefore should be made part of the cabinet.

Responding, Nazri said the position of parliamentary secretaries is integral to the governing system and cannot be abolished.