PUTRAJAYA: The new Cabinet Ministers under Pakatan Harapan Government have agreed to cut their salaries by 10% as an initiative to reduce government expenditures.
Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir said, the cut will be on the minister’s basic salary and this is a way to help the country’s finances.
Dr. Mahathir announced this at a press conference after chairing the first weekly Cabinet meeting here at Perdana Putra on Wednesday.
“This has been my practice. When I became the Prime Minister for the first time in 1981, the first thing I did was to cut the salaries of ministers and senior civil servants,” said Dr. Mahathir.
He added, mega projects will be reviewed with the possibility of them being scrapped. The decision on these projects will be made soon.
Tun Mahathir said this when responding to a question whether Pan Borneo Highway, Bandar Malaysia, and Tun Razak Exchange will be continued.
He also announced the disbandment of “non-essential” agencies such as Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD), National Professors Council and Special Affairs Department (Jasa).
“SPAD will be abolished and its duties now are being carried out by the Transport Ministry. Most of these institutions are not actually part of the government and are supposed to advise the government.
“We are studying which one will have to be abolished, which one will continue and which one we will defer to a later date,” he said.
Present at the press conference were Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr. Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and all other Cabinet Ministers.
–Malaysia World News
