ANWAR Ibrahim has said that he will only take up his salary as prime minister once the economy recovers.

“When the economy recovers, I can take my salary again, which I have not taken for six months.

“As long as the economy has not recovered, I will not take a salary,” he said during his address to Selangor public servants in Shah Alam today.

The cabinet under Anwar has also taken a 20% pay cut tied to economic recovery.

The government said it was saving RM100,000 per month from the cabinet pay cut.

In his speech this afternoon, the Tambun MP said his economic recovery efforts are nowhere near as aggressive as the moves taken by Indonesia.

“We have to improve our performance fast. Previously, Indonesia’s economy was slow compared to Malaysia’s.

“Indonesia is stricter by cancelling electricity subsidies.

“Unlike me, where only subsidies for the rich are cancelled, Indonesia withdrew subsidies from everyone,” Anwar said.

This drastic move by Indonesia, Anwar said, had allowed the republic to rapidly decrease its spending, which encouraged investors into the country.

However, Anwar said he would not resort to such drastic measures as he does not want to burden the public. –  June 12, 2023.