Help the rakyat, not increase allowances, Anwar tells govt

 

Anwar Ibrahim said the government seemed indifferent to the plight of the people by having allowed the increase in the price of goods to continue unchecked.

PETALING JAYA: Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has reminded the government to always put the welfare of the people ahead of its own interests.

The PKR president said the increase in the cost of living and basic goods were issues the government needed to address urgently, instead of expanding the Cabinet or increasing allowances.

“The priority should always be to protect the welfare of the people. They are facing issues with the rising cost of vegetables, fish, chicken, and flour, among other things” he said at an event last night.

Anwar added that the government also seemed indifferent to the plight of the people by having allowed the increase in the price of goods to remain unchecked for so long.

The increase in allowances Anwar was alluding to was the move by FGV Holdings Bhd last week to raise the salary and perks for its chairman and board members.

At its annual general meeting on Thursday, shareholders gave the nod to a resolution to raise the allowance of non-independent non-executive chairman Dzulkifli Abd Wahab by 60% to RM480,000 from RM300,000 previously.

This would mean a raise in his monthly allowance from RM25,000 to RM40,000.

FGV board members also got the okay for a 25% increase in their fees from RM120,000 to RM150,000 per annum, or, from RM10,000 to RM12,500 per month. - FMT