Effective this month, the basic salaries of the menteri besar of Kedah and all 10 state executive councillors will be cut by 10 percent.

Menteri Besar Mukhriz Mahathir said this was decided at the state executive council meeting at Wisma Darulaman today.

"This is an austerity measure in view of the financial position of the state. The state leadership is with the people who are shouldering various burdens and financial responsibilities,” he said in a statement here.

Mukhriz said the unanimous decision by the state executive council was also in line with the move taken by the federal government, whereby Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad had announced salary cuts by the same margin for cabinet ministers with immediate effect.

- Bernama