(Nov 16): Penang elected representatives are expected to get a pay hike next year, except for the chief minister, whose RM14,000 monthly salary remains unchanged.

If the amendments to the Members of Administration and Members of the Legislative Assembly (Remuneration) 1980 is approved at the state legislative assembly later this week, the salaries of Penang assemblymen, state executive councillors, the state legislative assembly speaker and allowance for the opposition leader will increase beginning Jan 1.

The pay hike for the state's 40 assemblymen will go from RM6,000 to RM11,250.

The state assembly speaker and state excos' salaries will be up from RM6,109.29 to RM12,109.29.

The allowance of the opposition leader will be increased from RM2,000 to RM3,000.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the pay increase was also to ensure the pay scale of Penang reps did not differ much from those received by elected reps in other states and senior civil servants.

On why his own salary is not increased, he said the decision to maintain it was on the basis that the prime minister's salary had not been increased.

"I think the CM's salary has not been raised for more than 10 years.

"Among all state government heads, I think Penang chief minister's salary is the lowest. I think the Kelantan Menteri Besar earns more," he told reporters when asked to comment on the proposed amendment.

However, Lim will still enjoy higher salary as a state assemblyman and a state exco if the amendment is approved by the legislative assembly. – The Malaysian Insider