THE cabinet has decided on a 10% pay cut for itself as part of the new government’s austerity measures.

“This proves that we are concerned about the government’s financial issues,” Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad told the press after chairing his first cabinet meeting this morning. 

He noted that some government officers are currently paid more than cabinet ministers. 

Despite this, he said the cabinet does not intend to raise the pay of its members. 

“This is a habit of mine. When I first became prime minister (in 1981), the first thing I did was to cut the salaries of ministers and senior civil servants,” he said. – May 23, 2018.