YOURSAY | ‘The 10 percent cut sounds good politically but it doesn’t move the needle in ringgit.’
Mahathir vs Najib: How much are you paying for the government?
BlueSKY: The ministerial salaries are way too low, even without comparing them to salaries in the corporate sector. Let’s not even mention government-linked companies (GLCs) - oh, and Sapura Energy Bhd.
The 10 percent cut sounds good politically but it doesn’t move the needle in ringgit.
We rakyat should acknowledge that to do a good, honest job with integrity, it takes certain types of individuals. We are not even talking about discouraging a tendency for corruption yet.
There’s an old saying that one should serve people and country. Well, the real world only has so many Mother Teresas.
People still need a reasonable salary to live commensurate with their responsibilities and capabilities, free from corruption.
This makes one wonder how some Umno/BN officials have so much obvious wealth.
Anonymous 2413471460628504: While I applaud the efforts of the current government to save money where it can, I think the salary our ministers receive is ridiculously low.
A general manager of a mid-size company would be paid more. And our ministers carry out way more important duties and have so much more responsibilities.
Perhaps it is better to pay them more and obtain savings by being prudent in spending.
At the same time, a higher salary will attract better talent and will reduce corruption.
Kamaapo: Yes, the salary scale of our ministers looks low vis-a-vis GLC chiefs.
By the way, are our ministers entitled to several good perks? If so, could some light be thrown on them for us to get a clear picture of the total remunerations of ministers?
Failing which, it's just long talk but still about half of a whole subject.
Brew007: Good work on the comparison of the cost of Mahathir and Najib cabinets.
However, the calculations should be based on the actual total of money spent on each position, that is, with all allowances such as housing, transport, communications, meetings, maid, security, et cetera.
So, what is the real amount spent?
Dr Suresh Kumar: You pay peanuts, you get monkeys, and these monkeys will find ways to steal more peanuts.
Emulate Singapore. Stop wastage and extravagance, plug leakages, stop plundering, be transparent. All transactions should be done above board.
Ministers’ pay is not the issue if they are clean, honest and efficient. In that case, you could even pay them RM50,000 a month.
Anonymous_d395a08d: Indeed, if the cabinet could stop just a fraction of the corruption and waste, they deserve to be paid 10 or even 100 times more. This would still be cheaper than the BN cabinet.
Pokok Kelapa: Do we need deputy ministers and a deputy prime minister?
We have parliamentary secretaries for each ministry. Then again, we have directors-general and deputy directors-general.
This is for a country with just 31 million people. Does it in any way improve productivity?
Anonymous_ad124abd: The number of ministers and their salaries is irrelevant if they can't perform.
Most importantly, performers should be rewarded and acknowledged, and non-performers should be dismissed.
Guuunner: Yes, what they earn is a pittance.
Be real. When everyone is yearning to increase their wages, we are asking the ministers to reduce theirs.
How can we be hypocrites? Don't they need to eat and feed their families like the rest of us?
Anonymous 2465801491553384: The rakyat is prepared to pay good salaries for a clean, efficient and corruption-free government.
To be free from corruption, our ministers must be paid a salary so that they do not have to worry about money and can do their jobs properly.
Personally, I believe the salaries of the prime minister, deputy prime minister, ministers and their deputies should be doubled.
Enlighten: For such low pay, no talented and honest person will join the government, as the private sector pays more. Only less capable people or those who are corrupt will join.
Former works minister S Samy Vellu used to blatantly say that his pay was not even enough to entertain his supporters.
Adequate pay, coupled with strong internal controls, is the way to ensure an effective and efficient government.
RR: Clearly, the salaries for the prime minister and ministers are very low compared to the private sector.
Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad should cancel the 10 percent cut in salaries for the ministers and deputy ministers with immediate effect.
After all, there are tremendous savings by having 10 fewer ministerial positions.
The above is a selection of comments posted by Malaysiakini subscribers. Only paying subscribers can post comments. Over the past one year, Malaysiakinians have posted over 100,000 comments. Join the Malaysiakini community and help set the news agenda. Subscribe now.
These comments are compiled to reflect the views of Malaysiakini subscribers on matters of public interest. Malaysiakini does not intend to represent these views as fact.
