One of the things Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim promised before he came into power was that he would refuse to accept any salary as a show of solidarity with Malaysians.
Although he seems to have made good on that promise, certain politicians seem less impressed.
Last month, PAS President Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang suggested in the Dewan Rakyat that Anwar wanted to appear more pious than Prophet Muhammad by refusing a salary.
Despite not directly naming Anwar, the remark was presumed to be a shot at the Prime Minister, who recently took the time to address those accusations.
Anwar suggested that Opposition lawmakers seem to prefer criticisms without offering any solutions.
“When I say I don’t take a salary, I get ridiculed. So, I think next year I’ll have to take it back,” he said in jest during a town hall session.
“Isn’t it strange? I don’t take a salary, except for the Parliament allowances, we receive that, and Azizah also gets a parliamentary allowance, and we combine, it’s okay. I’m not poor.”
“Such is the petty politics we have — they don’t appreciate. They can criticise but offer suggestions, but nothing concrete from them,” he added.
