Council of ex-elected reps disagrees with Syed Saddiq over pension issue

 

Council of Former Elected Representatives president Aziz Abd Rahman said assemblymen and MPs should not be compared to civil servants. (Facebook pic)

PETALING JAYA: The Council of Former Elected Representatives (Mubarak) has opposed Muda’s call to scrap pensions for elected representatives.

Its president, Aziz Abd Rahman, said elected representatives deserve a pension as they serve the public round the clock.

He said the practice is in line with that of governments around the world which have privileges committees to determine rewards for elected representatives.

Aziz, a former Mentakab and Bera assemblyman, said some people are jealous of the assemblymen as they think it is unfair for them to be eligible for a pension despite their fewer years of service, while civil servants have to work much longer to enjoy the benefit.

He said the word “pension” is a misnomer, which has led some people to make a direct comparison between the assemblymen and civil servants.

“I prefer to call it a ‘reward’ for their service as elected representatives”, the former Pahang deputy menteri besar told FMT, urging authorities to come out with a different term to avoid comparison with civil servants.

He said young politicians like Muda president Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman should not mix up the civil servants and elected representatives when it comes to matters involving pension, as the two have different work aspects.

Former Selising assemblyman Zulkifle Ali also defended the right of elected representatives to receive pension as they work round the clock to serve the people.

The Umno leader said the majority of the assemblymen not only have not enough rest, but also spend a sizeable portion of their salaries and allowances to help their constituents.

On Thursday, Syed Saddiq described elected representatives who receive a pension after serving a mere two or three years as an injustice as others would have to work for decades to be eligible for it.

He called for pensions to be scrapped for incoming assemblymen, menteris besar and state executive councillors, to ensure those who ran for election were not driven by power, position, or pension assurances.

Former Bandar Hilir assemblyman Tey Kok Kiew said Syed Saddiq’s reasoning was wrong and unfair. He said many assemblymen and MPs are “full-time” politicians and do not have other jobs or sources of income. - FMT