Look at Uruguay's 'poor' Mujica and 'T20' you, PSM tells Wong Chen

Summary

• PSM leader S Arutchelvan points out PKR MP called for higher wages for lawmakers, a day after the passing of the Uruguayan president, who turned down privileges such as the presidential palace and bodyguards.

• He expresses surprise that Wong Chen feels justified in demanding higher wages when the government wouldn’t increase the minimum wage to RM2,000, matching the recent pay adjustment for government employees.

PSM today criticised PKR’s Subang MP Wong Chen over his recent call for higher MP wages, drawing contrast between him and Uruguay’s “poorest president” José Mujica, who died last week.

In a statement today, PSM deputy chairperson S Arutchelvan said Mujica consistently declined the trappings of power by refusing to live in the presidential palace and even turning down staff assistance, bodyguards, and escorts.

He contrasted this with Wong calling for higher wages for parliamentarians just a day after the passing of Mujica, who was president from 2010 to 2015.

“His (Mujica’s) car was his only wealth that he declared in his asset declaration. In contrast, the day after his death, Wong called for higher wages for our MPs.

“The total income and allowance of an MP is around RM30,000 to RM40,000 per month. This is 20 times more than the minimum wage of RM1,700.

“The median monthly salary in Malaysia is around RM5,000. So, MPs, for a start, should definitely be in our T20 (level),” Arutchelvan said.

He said that during Mujica’s political tenure, he reduced Uruguay’s national poverty from 18 percent to 9.7 percent, while the minimum wage was raised from 4,800 pesos (RM490) to 10,000 pesos (RM1,030), offsetting the annual inflation rate of seven percent.

Citing the International Trade Union Confederation, Arutchelvan said Uruguay also emerged as the most advanced country in the Americas, in terms of labour rights, particularly freedom of association, the right to collective bargaining, and the right to strike.

“It baffles me that the MP has the justification to ask for a wage hike when the Madani government even refused to raise the minimum wage to RM2,000, on par with the government workers’ wage hike recently.

He said the amount is far below Malaysia’s living wage of RM3,100, based on the Belajawanku 2024/25 Expenditure Guide.

READ MORE: Allowances and perks: How much do MPs, speakers and deputy speakers get?

Previously, Bersatu Youth also slammed the Subang MP’s call for lawmakers to receive higher salaries.

Its assistant secretary, Fahim Farid, says the call was “detached” from the realities faced by struggling citizens, and that more focus should be given to ensuring opposition MPs receive equal parliamentary allocations - a suggestion also mooted by Wong.

Wong, a government backbencher, last week in his speech urged for higher salaries to be given to MPs, asserting that it is needed to ensure proper and effective implementation of work.

He was speaking at the launch of political economist and activist Edmund Terence Gomez’s book titled “Misgovernance: Grand Corruption in Malaysia”.

Advocating for a “carrot and stick” approach in policy formulations, he said MPs are “underpaid” as they have to take care of not only their families, but also their officers and staffers.

Wong claims statement misconstrued

In his Facebook post yesterday in response to Fahim, Wong clarified that his speech addressed fighting corruption.

He noted Singapore’s approach of providing high compensation to MPs and ministers while imposing severe penalties on those found guilty of corruption.

“Since we are both very concerned about hard economic times, perhaps you (Fahim) can also adopt the main suggestion of my speech, which is to enforce public asset declaration. In my view, this is the most important tool to fight corruption.

“Perhaps you can advise your top leaders in Bersatu to publicly declare their assets. Lead by example, and if you can do that, I would welcome you as an ally in fighting corruption in Malaysia,” he told Fahim.

PKR MP's call for more pay untimely, detached: Bersatu Youth

Rafizi slams 'luxury culture' creeping into party ranks as voters watch

No five-star Ritz for rocket: DAP MP claps back at PKR MP

PKR MP moots higher pay for lawmakers