The Perikatan Nasional Backbenchers Club (PNBBC) has pledged to donate 30 percent of their salary to the Covid-19 disaster trust fund for three months.
PNBBC chairperson Shahidan Kassim (above) said the decision was made out of concern for people who are suffering due to the movement control order (MCO) and Covid-19.
"We hope that our contribution will help to reduce the financial burdens of those in need and to help continued effort to deal with Covid-19," said Shahidan, according to Bernama.
Each MP earns a basic salary of RM16,000. That does not include a wide variety of allowances available.
The move by PNBBC follows the decision by the cabinet to donate their June-August salary to the fund.
Civil servants have also been made to take a small pay cut to finance the fund.
Critics, however, pointed out that the move by PNBBC and cabinet was unlikely to affect them since each PN MP has access to RM3 million per annum in federal constituency funds.
In contrast, the PN government had only allocated RM100,000 per annum for opposition MPs.
Sinar Harian cited Seremban MP and DAP organising secretary Anthony Loke stating that opposition MPs could not afford pay cuts like the backbenchers because their salaries are used for staff and rent.
Similarly, Kota Belud MP Isnaraissah Munirah Majilis said recently, around 70 percent of her salary is used for food baskets and other welfare handouts that she could afford.
She said not contributing to the fund does not mean that they are not helping the needy. - Mkini
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