SEREMBAN: The Negri Sembilan legislative assembly approved a new pay scale for all assemblymen during its recent sitting as the last time this was done was 10 years ago, says Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun.
The Mentri Besar said the assemblymen deserved a salary adjustment as their remuneration was the second lowest in the country before this exercise.
"We are not like other employees or government servants who get an increment every year.
"The last time the assemblymen got one was a decade ago and the next one will be 10 years from now," he told reporters after chairing the state exco meeting at Wisma Negri here on Wednesday (Dec 4).
For example, he said if an assemblyman was paid RM8,900 a decade ago, he was still earning the same amount now.
The Mentri Besar, state senior exco members, exco members, as well as state government pensioners, will also get an increase following the revision which will take effect in January.
He was responding to plans by a group from Bersatu to submit a protest note to the state government on Thursday (Dec 5) over the new pay scale for assemblymen.
It is alleged that the salaries will be increased by some 30% on average.
Aminuddin, who did not reveal the new salary structure, said a revision was justified as the state recorded a budget surplus last year and expected the same this year.
“The increase is also in line with revisions by most state governments.
"The new scale is not higher than what was approved by other states for their assemblymen," he said.
On a separate matter, Aminuddin, who is also Seremban International Gold Club president, said he had proposed banning the sale of alcoholic beverages at the club at its annual general meeting on Nov 30 to respect the sensitivities of the surrounding community.
"We have to understand that 99% of the population in the area in Ampangan are Muslims.
"Many members of the club are also civil servants," he said.
Aminuddin said his administration had never barred non-Muslims from drinking in suitable establishments.
He said as a sign of mutual respect, the state government also supported non-Muslims when it came to building places of worship and building or relocating vernacular schools.
Several club members had opposed the move, adding that the sale of alcoholic beverages was allowed under the club's constitution.
They also claimed that the move to table a resolution at the AGM was against the club's constitution as members were not told beforehand.
The resolution was eventually discontinued following protests from some members.
On the recent floods in the state, Aminuddin said his administration has approved a RM1,000 allocation for each affected family.
Affected students sitting for the SPM will also get RM500 each.
"Families which had to relocate to temporary relief centres will be eligible for this one-off payment," he said, adding that some 700 families and 40 students would benefit.
