Penang councillors get pay hike

The allowance adjustment will take place when the current councillors’ term of office ends this month. 

Athi Shankar, FMT

Following elected lawmakers, now municipal councillors in Penang will enjoy a 100% hike in their salaries from next year.

State executive councillor in charge of local government Chow Kon Yeow said that the Pakatan Rakyat state government was in the process of formulating new salary structure for councillors in both island and mainland municipalities.

“The allowance adjustment will take place when the current councillors’ term of office ends this month,” said Chow, the Penang DAP chairman, in his winding-up speech during debate at the Penang DAP ordinary convention here today.

Currently councillors get RM700 monthly allowance besides RM60 per meeting for maximum 10 meetings.

Last Friday, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng told the legislative assembly that the elected state assemblymen and women would enjoy an increase of nearly 46% in their monthly allowances from January.

The elected representatives’ current pay of RM4112.79 will be raised to RM6,000.

The Opposition Leader’s allowance has also increased from current RM1,000 to RM2,000.

Lim made the announcement when he unveiled the state budget for 2014 at a state assembly session.