Ibrahim Ali sleeps, Najib holidays in Perth; and they get a pay rise!

“All right, hands up, all those who think Pasir Mas MP Ibrahim Ali and Prime Minister Najib Razak deserve a pay rise. No, not you, Ibrahim, you can’t vote for yourself! And Rosmah, you can't vote for Najib either!”

One of the more mind-boggling announcements that PM Najib made during his budget speech was that Ibrahim Ali would receive higher allowances next year. This was just after he was caught sleeping in Parliament. What message is Najib sending out here? That laziness and sleeping on the job is to be rewarded? Unless Najib wants to reward him for being a fascist lunatic leading a bunch of racist thugs.

Well, of course all the other BN MPs, including Najib, also are to receive more. And we must ask at this point; for what, precisely? For ruining the economy? For aggravating race relations? For rising prices? Because that is mostly what BN’s MPs have been busy doing.

Pay rise when economy is already tumbling down the hill?

BN parliamentarians do not deserve a raise when the average citizen has to tighten his belt and go without; thanks to the BN’s incompetence. And thanks to the the BN’s rapacious pillaging of the nation’s wealth.

It is an outrage that Najib would attempt to push through this undeserved increase at such a difficult economic time.

If they must hand out more of the people’s money to the likes of Ibrahim Ali, then there should be a referendum in each constituency to decide on it. Let the constituents decide whether Ibrahim Ali deserves a raise. And the same goes for other turncoats like Zahrain, Tan Tee Beng, Hee Yit Foong, Wee Choo Keong and the loud-mouthed Gobalakrishnan.

Each of these turncoats have betrayed their voters for their own benefit and they must not be further rewarded.

'Lowest paid', but aren't so many of us?

Sensing public rebellion against giving MPs a cent more, Deputy Speaker of Parliament Wan Junaidi says Malaysian parliamentarians are underpaid.

“You can hint that we are among the lowest paid in the world. We are four times lower than Indonesia and Thailand... and there is no need to even compare us to Singapore,” Junaidi piteously told the Malaysian Insider.

But do MPs in Singapore zip around in the highest-specs imported luxury sports cars, get involved in timber concessions, land deals, construction deals, hospital deals, even school books and canteen deals. And, of course submarines deals.

Cut graft first

So unless, there is corresponding action in reducing graft at all levels of the Executive, beginning at the very top with Najib himself, why should taxpayers allow themselves to be stiffed further?

Be that as it may, the MPs' payhike plan is already in an advanced stage. And the recommendation is to double their pay.

According to Junaidi, a 9-member bi-partisan parliamentary review committee was formed last year and three draft Bills — the PSA Bill, Houses of Parliament (Privileges and Powers) Amendment Bill and Members of Parliament (Remuneration) Amendment Bill — have already been submiited to parliamentary Speaker Pandikar Amin, Senate President Abu Zahar and Minister in PM's Department Nazri Aziz.

MPs’ salaries have been revised five times in 1992, 1997, 2001, 2002 and 2005 since the Members of Parliament (Remuneration) Bill was enacted in 1980. In the 2005 amendment, their basic salaries increased from RM5,916.90 in 2002 to RM6,508.59, not inclusive of other benefits such as a RM1,200 driver allowance.

"Granted the MPs' pay scheme is low and due for a rise, but so is everybody else's. Why should they be the first? In fact, they should be the last," PKR veteran Eddie Wong told Malaysia Chronicle.

"As for BN MPs, there must some serious checks as to their indirect dealings, perks and benefits because of their direct access to government contracts. Take Najib and (wife) Rosmah's family holiday to Perth using the government's jet plane. And yet he still wants a pay rise? Does he deserve one?"

Malaysia Chronicle