The rumours that the Unity Government is considering eliminating or reducing the pensions of retirees including former Cabinet members are unreasonable, shared Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (DSAI), as the matter involves the issue of provisions in the Federal Constitution.
According to a report by Berita Harian, DSAI explained that the proposal to abolish or reduce the pension of Cabinet members should be examined and consulted by all parties.
“The pension of former Cabinet members… this pension as known (is) a provision of the Federal Constitution,”
“There are rumours that the Unity Government will consider abolishing pensions (retirees) or reducing them, which is unreasonable because this issue is a matter of the Constitution and should be examined and consulted by all parties,” he said.
However, DSAI added that other steps can be taken now, including cancelling the normal facilities and car allocation for Cabinet members as it involves administration and not provisions in the Federal Constitution.
This was brought up after former Kangar MP, Noor Amin Ahmad shared that the government could save between RM100 million to RM150 million in national expenses yearly should the pensions of former Cabinet members be abolished.
He said that, based on the country’s current system and the number of former Cabinet members who are eligible to receive pensions, the cost incurred for Ministers, Deputy Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries is RM100 million to RM150 million per year.
Noor Amin added that the parties concerned should not be given a pension because it is paid based on the executive branch of the system, not the legislature, and it is enough to simply take a generous gratuity.
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