Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the decision was made at a state executive council meeting yesterday, in answer to Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s call to help reduce the government’s debt burden.
THM is a government initiative to allow Malaysians to donate towards improving the country’s finances.
Chow said the total cuts would amount to RM13,526.80 a month and would begin with the June 2018 salary. He said the pay cut was open-ended, without an end date.
The chief minister is currently paid RM14,175.15 a month and the exco members are paid RM12,101.29. Penang assemblymen receive RM11,250 a month.
“We hope that this will help reduce the debt burden of the federal government, which was left by the previous Barisan Nasional administration,” Chow said at a press conference in Komtar today.
Yesterday, neighbouring Kedah also slashed the basic salaries of the menteri besar and exco members by 10%.
These actions are in line with Mahathir’s move to cut the salaries of his Cabinet members. He had also announced that a civil service salary rise due on July 1 would be reviewed.
Economist: Donation drive to settle govt debts embarrassing, bad precedent