Johor govt, Penang assembly cut salaries to fund lockdown relief
The Johor state government and the Penang assembly have announced pay cuts to channel more money into lockdown relief efforts.
In a statement today, Johor Menteri Besar Hasni Mohamed said he and his cabinet will donate three months’ worth of wages to the state’s disaster fund.
“Since it was set-up last year...
The Johor state government and the Penang assembly have announced pay cuts to channel more money into lockdown relief efforts.
In a statement today, Johor Menteri Besar Hasni Mohamed said he and his cabinet will donate three months’ worth of wages to the state’s disaster fund.
“Since it was set-up last year due to the pandemic, the Johor state disaster fund had received RM44.83 million worth of contributions in the form of cash and other equipment from various parties.
“As of now, RM41.65 million of those contributions have been spent for the benefit of people,” he added.
He urged other members in the state assembly, along with GLCs and the private sector to also make donations to the fund as well.
Yesterday, the Perak state government also announced that it would donate three months’ salary to the Covid-19 disaster trust fund.
The Penang government, meanwhile, will donate one month’s salary to the state’s Covid-19 fund.
Following the state government’s announcement yesterday, Penang state assembly speaker Law Choo Kiang said he too would give up one month's salary.
Meanwhile all Penang assemblypersons - including those from Perikatan Nasional - will also be donating 30 percent of their June salary to the state’s Covid-19 fund as well.
This was announced in a joint statement from all members of the Penang state assembly today.
This is the second time Penang lawmakers have cut their salaries to finance Covid-19 relief efforts, after a similar move last year.
The moves in Johor and Penang are just the latest in a series of pay cuts taken by various government officials and elected representatives across the country.
This comes after the economic situation is expected to worsen under the freshly announced lockdown by the federal government.
Umno deputy president and Rantau assemblyperson Mohammad Hasan also announced yesterday he will donate six months' worth of salary and allowances to his state constituency service centre for lockdown relief.
He previously described the federal cabinet's move on Tuesday to take a three months’ wage cut for Covid-19 relief as inadequate, and said ministers’ allowances should be cut as well since they were “often higher and surpass their salaries”.
