KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim dismissed claims by the opposition that he is pretending to be benevolent by rejecting his salary as the country’s premier and Finance Minister.
Anwar told the Madani town hall session that he received monthly allowances as the Tambun Member of Parliament.
“I have accepted Parliament allowances. Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail (Bandar Tun Razak MP) also receives her allowances. When my wife and I combine our allowances, we’re doing alright. We are not poor,” he said during the programme held at the Madani government's second-anniversary celebration (2TM) at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre here on Saturday (Nov 23).
On Nov 5, PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang in Dewan Rakyat implied that someone’s decision not to take his salary as a minister was an attempt to appear benevolent without directly referring to Anwar.
On the government’s two year anniversary, Anwar said it is too short to be evaluated fairly by all parties.
He, however, highlighted that various measures such as support for schools, healthcare and autism programmes, had been promptly implemented before the end of the ruling term.
“Whether its STR (Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah), aid for the poor, assistance for persons with disabilities, or support for children attending school. These forms of aid have been increased - at levels which have never been recorded before,” he said.
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