Anwar returns Khazanah allowance, reiterates stand to forgo PM salary

Anwar Ibrahim said he will return the allowance he received as Khazanah Nasional chairperson, reiterating that he does not draw a salary for the position of prime minister that he has held since November 2022.

Anwar, who is also the finance minister, said he declined to accept the allowance and salary as long as the country’s economy has not fully recovered.

“Earlier, I chaired the Khazanah meeting… apparently (as) the chairman (of Khazanah) and as prime minister, there are allowances and I was not aware.

“After a few months, the allowance (for meetings) was deposited into my bank account, and I informed them that I would not be taking it.

“I had to return the Khazanah allowance and instructed them not to pay my meeting allowance,” he said after an event to hand over contributions from the Maju Institute of Educational Development (MIED) in Putrajaya today.

In his first media conference as prime minister on Nov 24, 2022, Anwar said he would not accept a salary for the position and described it as a first step to gaining the people’s confidence in his leadership.

He added that after facing significant challenges in life, he is motivated to improve the lives of the people.

“I have experienced extreme hardship and suffering, which has taught me that when in power, I should do my best to help uplift the fate of the people.

“That’s why I say, I am not from a wealthy family and I do not take a salary as a prime minister. Some people say I don’t take a prime minister’s salary and (instead) take a salary as finance minister. That is not true,” he clarified.

On hardcore poverty, he noted that the government has addressed the issue in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Malacca, Penang, Perak, and Johor.

“We are working towards addressing it in other states as well,” he said.

‘Study hard’

Meanwhile, Anwar urged young people, especially from the Indian community, to continue their education and explore new fields such as digital transformation and artificial intelligence.

“Do not forget to study hard to achieve success and always remember that the goal of education is to acquire knowledge as best as possible,” he said.

He also announced an allocation of RM2 million to Tafe College in Seremban, which was developed by the late S Samy Vellu.

At the event, 671 individuals received scholarships and loans through MIED with an allocation of over RM15 million.

- Bernama

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