Earn stripes as a YB first’

Hawkeye

 | May 27, 2013

Penang Malay Congress criticises proposal to increase salaries of Penang elected reps, saying they should first learn to serve.

GEORGE TOWN: The DAP-led Penang state government should focus on improving the quality of life among the people instead of proposing a salary raise for its elected or appointed representatives.

Penang Malay Congress president Rahmad Isahak said the salary hike proposal gives the wrong impression that the state wants to reward elected representatives first before they perform or earn their stripes as a “YB”.

Hardly a month after the 13th general election, the DAP is already mooting a salary hike for its state executive councillors, the 45 state assemblymen and appointed local councillors. The call was made by Chow Kon Yeow, the state exco and Penang DAP chief last week.

“The reward should be about earning the people’s right to serve and to make Penang a better state. It is not about monetary gain, which the state is about to gift to the elected representatives. The state is sending the wrong message if this proposal is true.”

First, the timing is all wrong and second, the state government has just received a fresh mandate from the people to serve, not to seek for a salary hike.

The election is barely over and Pakatan Rakyat is still disputing it, yet in the middle of it all, the state wants to hike the salaries of the same persons in Penang who the rakyat fought hard to re-elect despite a strong campaign to unseat them by Barisan Nasional, Rahmad said.

Penang has become the second state after Sarawak to announce plans to revise the salaries of elected representatives upwards.

Rahmad said although the DAP-led Pakatan won with a bigger mandate compared to the 2008 general election, this does not give them the licence to seek salary increments, especially when the state’s economy is not faring well.

Asia is sandwiched between the recession in Europe and the sluggish American economy, so whatever growth here is at best, moderate rather than impressive, said Rahmad.

“If the global economy continues to crawl at this level, it is bound to affect Penang in the long-term because its economy is export-driven and services-orientated.”

Pakatan leaders must discuss proposal

Rahmad added the state should aspire to perform better first, such as ensuring that the first brick is laid for an affordable housing unit, redraw the traffic flow to contain the escalating congestion, fight crime with the police.

“It should also draw more investors, especially in the areas of transfer of technology as this can create jobs, reduce polarisation levels, have more healthy activities for the young as well as curbing the rise in healthcare costs due to the influx of foreign patients.

“Aspire to achieve something which the people can call tangible before seeking to increase salaries as ultimately, such costs will be borne by the taxpayers.The undersea tunnel between the island and mainland is also yet to be built,” he said.

Rahmad, however, supported the proposal to increase the municipal councillor’s basic allowance of RM700 as it is pittance in today’s world where the living costs is high.

Bukit Bendara PKR division head, Jason Ong Khan Lee, said he was inclined to agree with some of the points raised by Rahmad.

Ong, who is the former Kebun Bunga assemblyman, said the state should achieve something first before they allow themselves to be rewarded with a salary hike.

“If you do so, I am sure the people will not mind if there is a 20% to 30% hike in salaries. But it must be earned. Nothing is free nowadays.”

Ong said the state must concentrate on issues of governance and management to ensure productivity is at the optimum for both the public and private sectors.

“When the people begin to reap the benefits of good governance, it is fine to seek a hike,” said Ong, adding that the matter should be discussed among the top Pakatan leadership .