Salary hike approved for Terengganu MB, Speaker and Exco

The Speaker, Menteri Besar and State Executive Councillors (Exco) will receive a salary increase effective Jan 1 this year.

This follows the Terengganu state legislative assembly sitting today which passed the Administrative and Legislative Assembly (Remuneration) (Amendment) Enactment 2015.

Speaking to reporters after the sitting here today, Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Razif Abdul Rahman said the hike was in line with salary increase of members of the state assembly before this.

He said with the passing of the enactment the Menteri Besar would now receive a salary of RM30,000 a month compared with RM14,000 previously while the Speaker and Exco will receive a salary of RM14,000 per month compared with RM6,100 previously.

He said it was a reasonable wage increase for the Menteri Besar, Exco and Speaker as they do not receive annual salary increments nor bonuses like other civil servants.

"This pay hike will also be enjoyed by former excos, former menteri besar and former Speaker, former excos who served only one term or minimum 72 months, as half the excos only receive a pension of RM3,000, which is not reasonable," said the Menteri Besar.

On May 14, the Terengganu state assembly sitting approved an increase in the salary scale for state assemblymen equivalent to that of a Grade 54 government officers.

All of the 32 state assemblymen now receive a salary of RM11,000 per month compared with RM4,112 previously equivalent to Grade 44 government officials.