16 MPS OR EX-MPS HOLDING GOOD POSITIONS

By :  IDA LIM

KUALA LUMPUR :  Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz today said that 16 MPs - both current and former - hold positions under the Prime Minister's Department in bodies, with some drawing allowances above RM20,000.

"The total members of Parliament or former members of Parliament that are in Government Agencies, Government Linked Companies (GLCs), Commissions, Bodies and Boards in various capacities under the Prime Minister's Department is 16," Nazri said in his written Parliamentary reply.

The minister in the prime minister's department (picture) was replying to Fong Po Kuan (DAP - Batu Gajah)'s question in Parliament yesterday.

Nazri also provided a table with details of the MPs appointed to their positions.

The MPs receiving RM20,000 or more under the heading of fixed allowance or allowance for attending monthly meetings (elaun tetap/ elaun kehadiran mesyuarat bulanan) include ambassadors, special advisors to the prime minister and the chairman of the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD).

Datuk Seri Dr Haji Jamaluddin Mohd Jarjis and former MIC president Datuk Seri Samy Vellu both receive RM27,227.20 for respectively serving as special ambassador to the US and special ambassador to India and Asia for infrastructure, Nazri said.

Former MCA president Tan Sri Ong Ka Ting who serves as the Prime Minister's special ambassador to China was listed as receiving RM20,000.

The special advisor to the prime minister for the Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER), Datuk Seri Dr Shahidan Kassim receives RM24,022, while Datuk Seri Dr Abdullah Md Zin receives RM25,106 for serving as the Prime Minister's religious advisor.

The list also showed Tan Sri Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar as receiving RM20,000 as SPAD chairman. The list did not indicate if these were monthly payments.