Malaysian Cabinet to get pay hike

Malaysian Cabinet to get pay hike

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters): Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad -- who recently complained that he was overworked and underpaid -- and his cabinet colleagues are to be given pay rises to make up for cuts they suffered during the Asian crisis, officials said on Thursday.

Under new legislation that is expected to be endorsed by the lower house of parliament, Mahathir will be given a 22 percent rise backdated to January this year to take his monthly salary to 18,865 ringgit ($4,965) from its current level of 15,435 ringgit. Ministers, deputy ministers and MPs are also to get salaries' hike.

But Mahathir's new salary will still be pittance compared with what his counterpart in neighboring Singapore earns.

Singapore Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong earns about $1.12 million a year, or $93,000 a month -- five times more than U.S. President Bill Clinton.