Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said he is sticking with his resolution not to take a salary six months into the job.
He said he will only do so once the economy recovers.
"When the economy recovers fast, I can take my salary again, which I have not taken for six months.
"As long as the economy has not recovered, I will not take a salary," he said during his address to Selangor public servants in Shah Alam today.
Besides Anwar, the cabinet also took a 20 percent pay cut tied to economic recovery.
The government said it was saving RM100,000 per month from the cabinet pay cut.
Part of Anwar's economic recovery plan includes targeting subsidies more, which has caused some rumblings.
However, he noted in his speech today that his efforts are nowhere near as aggressive as the moves taken by Indonesia.
"We have to improve our performance fast. Previously, Indonesia's economy was slow compared to Malaysia's.
"But now Indonesia is more stern by cancelling electricity subsidies.
"Unlike me, where only subsidies for the rich are cancelled, Indonesia withdrew subsidies from everyone," Anwar said.
He added that this allowed Indonesia to rapidly decrease its spending, which encouraged investors into the country.
However, Anwar said he would not resort to such drastic measures as he does not want to burden the public.
[More to follow] - Mkini
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