PKR rep hits out at Teng for stating the obvious
Meena Lakshana, fz.com
Amid the kerfuffle within Pakatan Rakyat over the sharp salary increase of Selangor’s elected representatives, state executive councillor (exco) Datuk Teng Chang Khim is in the line of fire from a coalition colleague for “stating the obvious”.
Batu Caves assembly member Amirudin Shari, of PKR, today hit out at Teng for noting that Selangor Pakatan Backbenchers Club president Mohamed Azmin Ali did not raise objections when the issue was debated in the state assembly sitting.
“I am of the view that it is improper for an exco to issue the following statement which only aggravates the situation,” he said in a statement.
“There is no practice in Commonwealth countries whereby the BBC’s role is to object to a motion tabled by the government of the day,” he added.
Teng had reportedly said today Bukit Antarabangsa assembly member Mohamed Azmin was present at the sitting while the bill was debated and passed but did not voice any objections to it.
“He didn’t utter a word,” said Teng. “Even the opposition, none of them uttered a word,” he had said.
Amirudin said the motion should have been discussed at the pre-council meeting to obtain the BBC’s approval as practised in other Commonwealth countries.
“I have to underline the fact that the BBC’s role in the assembly sitting is to support motions put forth by the government,” he said.
“We just want to have communication between the government and the BBC,” he added.
Amirudin said while the BBC is not averse to the motion on the salary hike, the assembly members are of the view that it should be done at a reasonable rate.
He also said the state government should prioritise efforts to increase the basic facilities of assembly members such as their office space, provision of research officers, library facilities and a better online hansard system.
The salary hike for the elected representatives and top leadership, announced by Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim on Wednesday, was passed unanimously by the state assembly yesterday.
The pay hike, effective January 1, 2014, will see elected representatives garnering an increase in monthly salary from RM6,000 to RM11,250, state executive councillors from RM6,109.29 to RM20,250.
Meanwhile, Abdul Khalid will see his paycheck increase from RM14,175.15 to RM29,250, Speaker Hannah Yeoh from RM6,109.29 to RM22,500 and deputy speaker Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad from RM3,327.50 to RM15,750.
The salary hike has received criticism from Barisan Nasional (BN) leaders while Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Azmin had also said the hike was a “tad high.”
