IN the wake of a controversial blog post questioning palace expenses, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Muhammad V today announced that he too will take a 10% pay cut until the end of his reign in a show of solidarity with his subjects.

This unprecedented move is a clear sign that the king is also falling in line with popular sentiment.

In a statement, the Comptroller of the Royal Household Wan Ahmad Dahlan Haji Ab Aziz said the King was touched and grateful to the many Malaysians who have contributed to Tabung Harapan Malaysia to assist the country pay its RM1 trillion debt.

“His Majesty wishes to join the people in doing his duty by decreeing that he too will take a 10% salary and emoluments cut throughout his reign, which ends in 2021,” he said.

In a move to boost the country’s coffers, Wan Ahmad said there will be no Hari Raya open house at Istana Negara for the coming festive celebration.

“In conjunction with Hari Raya, His Majesty will use the funds allocated for the open house at the Palace to assist the less fortunate,” he added.

According to the First Schedule in the Civil List Act‘s 2012 online version, the King receives RM608,400 in the form of the Privy Purse or the sum payable in respect of the Privy Purse under state law to the ruler of a state on the date of his election as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, whichever sum is greater.

He also gets RM202,800 and RM243,360 in entertainment and Istana Negara royal allowances.

The new Pakatan Harapan federal government began its rule last month with Dr Mahathir Mohamad announcing a 10% pay cut for all members of his cabinet as a part of government’s austerity measure to cope with the huge debt inherited from the Barisan Nasional administration.

After Putrajaya revealed that the country had accumulated over RM1 trillion in debt, Malaysians on social media called for a crowdfunding exercise to help the country pay the debt, which led to the Finance Ministry setting up Tabung Harapan Malaysian.

The fund has collected over RM56 million from Malaysians as of 3pm today, including those abroad; and the corporate sector.

Recently, veteran journalist A. Kadir Jasin wrote in his blog claiming that RM256.9 million was allocated by the federal government to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong for purposes of accommodation, maintenance of residence and palace, personal items, aircraft and transportation, training and escort equipment, clothing and ceremonial items, gifts and souvenirs, overseas visits and salaries of palace staff for 16 months until April this year. – June 11, 2018.