IN support of the federal government’s move to cut the wages of the prime minister and cabinet ministers, the Penang government is following suit with a 10% pay cut.

The chief minister and the 10 excos in the state government will now make RM1,417.51 and RM1,210.92 less, respectively, starting next month. The money saved from the cut will go to Tabung Harapan – the fund established by the Finance Ministry to collect public donations to help Malaysia pay her national debt.

Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said money saved from the pay cut, which was unanimously approved at yesterday’s exco meeting, amounted to RM13,526.80 each month.

“The decision is in line with the federal government’s move to cut the pay of all cabinet ministers by 10%. The pay cut will be enforced until there is an order to stop.

“We hope this will help the federal government deal with the debt inherited from the previous Barisan Nasional administration,” he told a press conference today.

It was reported that the national debt had breached RM1 trillion.

Yesterday, Kedah and Johor, both Pakatan Harapan states, made similar announcements of a pay cut of 10% for the menteris besar and excos. – May 31, 2018.