(Nov 25): Over and above a bloated cabinet, there are at least eight "back-door ministers" – former ministers serving as advisers or special envoys to the prime minister, DAP said today.

Kluang MP Liew Chin Tong said that the salaries received by these individuals were even more than that of ministers and deputy ministers.

The eight are: Datuk Seri Abdullah Md Zin, religious advisor to the prime minister; Datuk Seri Zainal Abidin Osman, special adviser to the PM on the northern economic region; Tan Sri Rais Yatim, social and cultural adviser to the government; Tan Sri Ong Ka Ting, special envoy to China; Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing, the prime minister’s special envoy to East Asia; Datuk Seri S.Samy Vellu, special envoy to India and South Asia; Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, women entrepreneur and development adviser; and Datuk Seri Shaziman Abu Mansor, an adviser to the prime minister.

Liew added that with the exception of Ong and Tiong who did not receive salaries and Shaziman, whose salary was unknown, the rest were getting between RM14,907.20 and RM27,227.20.

In comparison, cabinet ministers and deputy ministers earned RM14,907.20 and RM10,847.65 respectively.                                                       

The prime minister and deputy prime minister, meanwhile, received monthly salaries of RM22,826.65 and RM18,168.15, respectively.

“These advisers to the prime minister who are paid more than ministers are flawed in practice.

“They are like back-door ministers who should be stripped of their posts,” Liew added. – The Malaysian Insider

MORE TO COME