It was only last December that the combative Machang MP Wan Ahmad Fayhsal had lambasted ex-DAP leader Lim Kit Siang after the latter had reportedly expressed his hope that Malaysia would not have to wait as long as the US to have a leader from an ethnic minority.
Kit Siang’s remarks then drew a fierce backlash from Malay leaders from both sides of the political divide with Wan Fayhsal “proclaiming” that it was the right time to kill off the DAP leader’s “dreams” which according to the young leader was akin to a “nightmare” for the Malays who had struggled to fight colonisers for hundreds of years!
Incidentally, in 2015, Kit Siang who was then the DAP parliamentary leader was suspended from Parliament for six months for allegedly insulting Dewan Rakyat Speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia.
Then last Thursday (July 18) the controversial UK-educated Bersatu youth leader unexpectedly found himself "in the same boat” with his elderly nemesis, Kit Siang, after he was sensationally suspended from parliamentary duties for six months; this was after Azalina Othman Said, the de facto law minister, had pointed out that Wan Fayhsal had unfairly defamed an EPF staff by referring to a “poison pen” letter in the Dewan Rakyat (the contents unsubstantiated and written by an anonymous party).
For the record, the sharp-witted Wan Fayhsal has been in the forefront of protests against Anwar and his unity government against the plan to involve a company owned by controversial US fund manager BlackRock (who are said to have links with Israel) to manage the country's airports under a privatisation plan.
Yet, ironically, perhaps what Wan Fayhsal and many may have forgotten is that back in 2010 during Najib Razak’reign, Anwar himself was banned from parliament for six months following his allegations that the then prime minister’s iconic “1Malaysia" slogan was actually inspired by an Israeli election campaign called "One Israel". (Yes, again it involved Israel!)
Meanwhile, Wan Fayhsal’s recent suspension had prompted the opposition camp to decry that the punishment was very harsh and unjust; however, only last February Dewan Rakyat Speaker Johari Abdul had forewarned MPs that a six-month suspension awaits those who raised hearsay during parliamentary debates. The Machang MP would have surely taken note of the warning. So is it fair for him to claim that he wasn't given a chance to defend himself?
Undoubtedly, the suspension of Bersatu'youth leader, who is a key spokesman in parliament for the opposition Perikatan Nasional, with his fiery and often controversial speeches, is bound to hurt the coalition especially with the 2025 Budget debate coming up in October.
However, it has also caused a buzz in the country with many netizens questioning: is it really fair that suspended, errant MPs continue to enjoy high monthly salary and other “plump” perks when they are banned from attending parliamentary sessions?
Interestingly, last January NST news website had carried a report which zoomed in on the “shocking” earnings of MPs and state assemblymen; according to its findings based on the Members of Parliament (Remuneration) Act 1980, an MP's monthly salary, including allowances, could work out to an eye-watering RM25,700!
A rough breakdown of their take home earnings is be as follows;
Salary: RM16,000 per month
Parliamentary attendance: RM400 per day
Government meetings/ workshops: RM300 per day
Entertainment allowance: RM2,500 per month
Special payment for non-administration MP: RM1,500 per month
Fixed travel allowance: RM1,500 per month
Fuel allowance: RM1,500 per month
Toll allowance: RM300 per month
Driver allowance: RM1,500 per month
Phone bill allowance: RM900 per month
Hotel allowance (on domestic duties): Up to RM400 per night
Daily stipend during business trips: For domestic it's RM100 a night, while International it's RM170 a night
Food allowance (overseas): RM340 a night
If the above is not enough to make one’s jaw drop they are also eligible for other generous allowances running into thousands of ringgit relating to black tie, clothing, handphone and computer purchase; while MPs also become eligible for a pension after completing only 36 months of reckonable service and upon reaching 50 (even if their attendance record for parliamentary sittings had been pretty dismal?)
As for their perks, this includes free vehicle licence, free first-class single-room ward in government hospitals; while when they are on official trips they are assured of “business class” air travel and “first-class” rail travel!
Considering all the pompous benefits, what the public including netizens may be entitled to ask is: “Is it ‘morally right’ for someone who is being punished for a serious wrongdoing to be lavished with financial blessings and freebies from ordinary people's (read: taxpayers’) hard earned income? Isn't it as if they haven’t done anything wrong?”
True, while docking their full basic salary and essential allowances may seem to be cruel as they also have families to support and constituents to serve; perhaps, some may propose that docking half their salary will suffice while “freezing” all the generous non-essential allowances/claims such as for entertainment,travelling, hotel, food and others has to be a must!
If not, as what some netizens may have correctly pointed out, wouldn't the suspension be tantamount to nothing but an obscene “all expenses paid holiday” for the offender? How on earth can it be a deterrent?
Information source: BBC, Focus Malaysia, Malaysia Now, Malay Mail and NST
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