FORMER finance minister Anwar Ibrahim said to reform the country, he would have cut more than 10% from the salaries of ministers in the Pakatan Harapan federal government.

He said to serve the people’s interest, slashing the ministers’ pay was necessary.

“We need to change the paradigm now. We cannot just be a little better than Barisan Nasional. We have to reform.

“That is why all ministers’ salaries have been cut by 10%. Luckily, it was (Prime Minister) Dr Mahathir Mohamad. If it were me, I would have cut more,” he said in a ceramah at SP Arena in Seberang Jaya, Penang last night.

“I am not joking. If you want to take care of the people, then cut the salaries, cut wastage, find ways to make sure you don’t spend a single sen unnecessarily, return the money to the people and cut taxes.

On Wednesday, Dr Mahathir announced that all ministers in his cabinet were taking a 10% pay cut to reduce government spending. He said senior civil servants who earned more than ministers were also welcomed to participate in the pay cut.

The PH government, formed after the coalition headed by Dr Mahathir removed BN from its 61-year rule in Malaysia, is on a mission to “clean up” the federal administration and reduce spending.

The new administration also just revealed this week that Malaysia’s national debt has hit RM1 trillion, which was about 65% of the national gross development product.

Anwar, who was finance minister from 1991 to 1998, said Malaysia’s economy needed structural reform.

He said the understanding of growth needed to be reoriented to address the inequality, the gap between the rich and the poor, urban poverty and problems faced by the middle-class.

Taxes must be lowered and the economic plan must benefit all Malaysians, regardless of race, he said.

“Economic development was more than just figures, data and statistics,” Anwar said.

Without naming anyone or party, he said boasting about growth at 8% or 9%, Employees’ Provident Fund dividends at 6 to 7% or foreign investments amounting to billions of ringgit had not brought meaning to the people, as they did not feel the growth.

“What is there to be so proud of? Growth was at 10% and EPF dividend at 9% when I was finance minister.

“I am not saying this to show off. I want to say that development is not just about numbers. Some people think it is.

“They don’t mean anything unless growth is reflected in the people’s lives,” the PKR leader said.

Anwar, who was released from jail last week after being granted a royal pardon by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, said he knew of prison staff who had to struggle to get by due to the rising cost of living.

“They buy the cheapest diapers because of the goods and services tax driving up prices. They also changed to lower quality milk formulas for their children.

“Others also have to struggle to pay their National Higher Education Fund loan… that is why there was a people’s tsunami bringing down such leaders,” he said.

The May 9 polls saw PH boot out Barisan Nasional to take over Putrajaya and several state governments, except in Perlis, Pahang and Sarawak. Terengganu and Kelantan were won by PAS. – May 26, 2018.