Cover image via Bernama/Malay Mail
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Newly appointed Perlis Menteri Besar Abu Bakar Hamzah has announced he will be taking a voluntary RM3,000 monthly pay cut as part of efforts to ease the state government's financial burden
According to Bernama, Abu Bakar, who is also the Kuala Perlis assemblyman, said he would advise incoming state executive council (exco) members to also take a RM1,500 monthly salary reduction, following an upcoming reshuffle.
"For the new exco members later, I will also advise them to make a RM1,500 deduction. If I can reduce my salary by RM3,000, I believe RM1,500 for them, insya-Allah, is possible.
"We must serve the state and the people. For ordinary folks, even earning RM500 a month is a heavy burden. I am making this cut willingly so people can see the sacrifices we are prepared to make to develop the state," he said.
Abu Bakar was speaking to reporters after reporting for duty at the Menteri Besar's Office at Kompleks Seri Putra in Kangar today, 29 December, a day after he was sworn in before the Raja of Perlis Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Jamalullail at Istana Arau.
On the appointment of new exco members, Abu Bakar said discussions would first be held with state secretary Datuk Rahimi Ismail before proposed names are submitted to Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin
He added that the number of exco appointments would take into account the state's financial position, as well as the need to maintain balance between PAS and Bersatu within the Perikatan Nasional coalition to ensure smooth governance.
"We want to restore balance within the existing leadership between the two parties so that the administration and exco appointments can be properly coordinated.
"It may not fully satisfy everyone, but at least it will help balance the leadership and ensure the state administration runs in an orderly and effective manner," he said.
Meanwhile, Abu Bakar said his administration would be guided by the 3B concept — "Bangkit, Bingkas, Buat (Rise, Act Swiftly, Deliver)" — to help Perlis progress in line with other states
Despite Perlis being a small state with limited revenue, he expressed confidence that development could be achieved through collective effort and the mobilisation of all department heads.
"We must rise from complacency, weaknesses, laziness, and the like. This is something I emphasise to myself, as well as to all civil servants and the people," he said.
