PRIME Minister Anwar Ibrahim today said Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah has been refusing to accept his allowance since the Covid-19 pandemic hit the country.

He said the king has acted way earlier to reject his allowance to help ease the plight faced by Malaysians.

“His Majesty has not received any salary from the government since the Covid-19 pandemic,” he said at a press conference in Putrajaya today.

“It is a contribution made by his Majesty considering the economic situation that is adding pressure on the lives of the people.”

Comparing the cabinet’s decision to accept a 20% salary cut and his decision to forgo the prime minister’s salary, Anwar said the king was among the first to give up his allowance to help reduce the burden of the people.

Upon his appointment as prime minister and following the appointment of his ministers, Anwar announced that the new cabinet has agreed to cut the ministers’ salaries by 20% and that the decision reflects the cabinet members’ concern for the problems faced by the people.

He said the salary cut will remain in effect until the country’s economy recovers. – December 14, 2022.