Does the Speaker of the Parliament deserve a RM31,000 monthly salary? Netizens say no

 

SOMETIMES A hardworking, abused and overworked worker can only wonder in silence when they look up at these CEOs who make probably five to ten times their salary.

Or perhaps a politician enjoying a RM15,000 salary, with a job of shaking peoples’ hands and making empty promises. 

Are these truly jobs or merely excuses for the rich to get richer from the poor, aka the rakyat or the shareholders, where corporations are concerned.

And when we think these people have it good, think again because netizen @datukhensem just stirred the hornet’s nest recently, pointing out the salary of the speaker of the Parliament at RM31,000. Money well spent or is this daylight robbery?

According to him, the speaker not only receives a lucrative salary, but trips to London, free electricity, water and gas, entertainment allowance of RM9,860 and a house maintenance allowance of RM10,000 per year.

The post also tagged Tan Sri Dato’ Dr Johari bin Abdul in a video, who answered questions on why the salaries of MPs are justified.

The post has since attracted a good deal of netizens who voiced their opinions on the comment section.

For example, @Bardhussain wondered why the law specifically provided the speaker airfare to London.

Netizen @AmirDukes claimed that the law was enacted during the early times before independence and they had to go meet the colonisers for administrative purposes. 

“But today? Should be scrapped already,” he added. Also, @abience00 thinks it is nonsense that a house allowance of RM10,000 is provided every year. 

“Does your wiring break every year or are you renovating the house every year? That 10k could already cover 3/4 of a pretty, luxurious monthly house payment here in Johor Bahru,” he said.

Extending from this is @CeciliaSantoadi, suggesting that the house maintenance could be better used to for the maintenance of public hospitals.

Then there was @AtsuranZ18057 who thinks the speaker should just receive RM5000 for his responsibilities.

An angry netizen by the name of @RandomHistoryG4 warned that when the revolution comes, he will not be catching a flight to London but to a reeducation camp instead.

Away from all the hate and anger, the speaker of the Parliament does hold a very important role in the government, although in hindsight, it appears to be trivial. 

Note that the speaker of the Parliament is the highest-ranking presiding officer, responsible for maintaining order, interpreting rules and ensuring impartial debates. 

As the chief representative of the House, the Speaker moderates proceedings, decides who speaks, and acts as the official spokesperson in relations with the executive, judiciary, and the public. 

But is RM31,000 per month justified? As a taxpayer, we think No. — Focus Malaysia