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Free Malaysia Today
20 hours ago
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
PKR's Wong Chen takes a break to ponder his future
Subang MP Wong Chen pictured at KLIA tonight before leaving with his family for a holiday in France. (Facebook pic) PETALING JAYA : Subang MP Wong Chen, a backbencher from PKR, said today he is taking a two-week break from work for a family holiday during which he will ponder his future in politics. In a brief yet contemplative posting on Facebook, Wong said he will be in France for more than two weeks, and hopes to rest, spend time with his children, and also contemplate his political future. The three-term MP also said he could not shake a sense of dread that the government led by PKR president Anwar Ibrahim would have little to show in terms of institutional reforms at the end of its parliamentary term. 'So much time (15 years) and effort have been spent getting into power, but now, I can't help but feel a deep worry that we have so little reforms to show. I know we can achieve more reforms, and the only way to do this is us MPs must push the government harder from the backbench,' said Wong. Wong was aligned with former PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli during the party's elections last month. He lost his seat on the PKR central leadership council, while Rafizi was defeated by Nurul Izzah Anwar and subsequently offered his resignation from the Cabinet. In the lead up to the PKR elections, Wong had questioned the source of funds used to hold party events, pointing out that such events were not so lavish in the past. He had also reportedly said at a forum that going into politics had come at a personal cost and that the allowance received by MPs was not sufficient as they also had to cover constituency costs. According to published reports, backbench MPs may receive about RM27,500 in total allowances a month, while also supervising a constituency development allocation of RM1.7 million.
Free Malaysia Today
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
It's now time to close ranks, says Fahmi
PKR information chief Fahmi Fadzil recalled his own experience when he lost in the contest for vice-president in 2022 but was still picked to hold an important post in the party. JOHOR BAHRU : PKR information chief Fahmi Fadzil, who secured a spot in the central leadership council at the party polls tonight, believes the election results would be accepted by members. Fahmi, who secured the highest number of votes in the contest, said it was now time to close ranks. He said candidates who lost still have a role to play, citing his own experience when he wasn't elected as one of the four vice-presidents in 2022. 'Despite my defeat, I was appointed as the party's information chief. 'This is the norm. The party will round up its 'assets' and those who wish to contribute will be given a post,' he told reporters here. ADVERTISEMENT VIDCRUNCH Next Stay Playback speed 1x Normal Quality Auto Back 360p 240p 144p Auto Back 0.25x 0.5x 1x Normal 1.5x 2x / Skip Ads by He also said the newly elected leaders will need to go to the ground and improve their ties with the grassroots to better prepare the party machinery for the next general election. Separately, Subang MP Wong Chen, who was among the 104 eyeing a spot in the 20-seat council, was not surprised that he did not make the cut. He came in 30th in the polls. 'It was expected as I campaigned very little,' he said in a Facebook post. However, he thanked his supporters who voted for him. 'I happily sink or swim with my chosen team.' Wong was a running mate of Rafizi Ramli, who failed to retain his deputy president's post after losing to Nurul Izzah Anwar.
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Rakyat Post
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Rakyat Post
[Watch] Living On RM16,000 A Month ‘Too Hard' Says Subang MP
Subscribe to our FREE PKR's Wong Chen has struck a controversial chord in a move that is raising eyebrows. The Subang MP suggested that parliamentarians' current compensation package, anchored by a RM16,000 monthly base salary, needs a boost. Wong Chen argues that the salary is barely sufficient for basic needs. The political expenses we have, you think we are only looking after our children and spouses? You've also got all these people in your office. He further defended his position by explaining that the political work is unusual. Until you become a politician, you won't understand what the cost entails… a lot of allowances is not (a) salary. Wong Chen's comments about insufficient MP salaries came during the book launch of MP's Full Benefits Package The timing couldn't be more ironic in a country where the MPs may earn additional allowances, making the total average monthly remuneration approximately RM25,700. According to the Monthly base salary: RM16,000 Entertainment allowance: RM2,500/month Fixed travel allowance: RM1,500/month Vehicle fuel allowance: RM1,500/month Toll payment allowance: RM300/month Driver allowance: RM1,500/month Phone allowance: RM900/month Parliament session attendance: RM400/day Government agency meetings: RM300/day Additional benefits include: Mobile phone purchase: Up to RM2,000 every 2 years Computer purchase: Up to RM6,000 Black tie attire allowance: RM1,000 every 3 years Official ceremonial attire: Up to RM1,500 Hotel allowance: Up to RM400/night for assignments over 32km from home Daily allowances: RM100/night (domestic) and RM170/night (international) Overseas meal allowance: RM340/night Free first-class single room in government hospitals Apply for an Business class flights and two free first-class train passes for official travel Gaji dan elaun Ahli Parlimen terlalu rendah. Madani perlu naikkan – kata PKR. — Naratif Rakyat 🇲🇾 (@NaratifRakyat) MPs' Pay Hike Push Spotlights Malaysia's Economic Divide But here's where it gets interesting: while MPs enjoy this extensive list of benefits, the proposal has led to a fierce backlash on social media. One commenter pointedly noted that some Malaysians could only count ringgit by hundreds, while another questioned how monthly expenses could reach RM16,000. The contrast becomes even sharper when considering that medical specialists in government hospitals – professionals with years of specialised training – don't even reach this base salary level, as one social media user highlighted. Amid this compensation controversy, the proposal has inadvertently exposed the growing chasm between the political elite and everyday Malaysians, many of whom, as one commenter poignantly noted, 'spend their nights worrying about where to find work the next day.' For a nation still grappling with cost-of-living challenges, this latest push for higher political salaries might be the perfect storm in Malaysia's ongoing debate about economic inequality and political privilege. Yang sorang pemimpin PAS kata, "Gaji ahli parlimen HANYALAH Rm 25,700" Another context pula, "Gaji Rm 3,500 tak jamin hidup selesa". Soalan aku mudah, berapa gaji yg mencukupi utk ahli PAS? Sedangkan cikgu PASTI pun ada yg dibayar sekitar Rm 400 – Rm 600 sebulan. Zalim. — Zac (@ZacZakirin13) READ MORE : READ MORE : READ MORE : Share your thoughts with us via TRP's . Get more stories like this to your inbox by signing up for our newsletter.
Free Malaysia Today
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Govt MP hopes Anwar will push home ministry to review deportation SOPs
Subang MP Wong Chen said the home ministry has yet to follow up on a meeting last year to review extradition SOPs. PETALING JAYA : A government backbencher has voiced hope that Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's recent comments on the deportation of Cambodian maid Nuon Toeun will spur the home ministry into ending transnational refoulement practices. Subang MP Wong Chen, who chairs the Malaysian chapter of the Asean Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR), said the incident was discussed with the home ministry at a meeting in Parliament last November. 'All parties in that meeting agreed that this episode should not happen again as it puts Malaysia in a bad light. 'We agreed that we would take steps to revise the immigration standard operating procedures on similar future extradition requests,' he said in a Facebook post. However, he said despite repeated attempts to schedule a follow-up discussion, his office has yet to receive a response from the ministry. 'I take this interview as a positive sign that the prime minister is very committed to improving governance. 'I hope to see him after his trips overseas and ask him to nudge the home ministry to engage my office to help end this terrible practice of transnational refoulement,' Wong added. In an interview with Qatar-based news network Al Jazeera, Anwar said he had conveyed his concerns to Cambodian prime minister Hun Manet before allowing the deportation of Nuon Toeun for allegedly criticising former Cambodian leader Hun Sen in several Facebook posts. Nuon Toeun was deported from Malaysia in September last year and is reportedly being held at a prison in Phnom Penh. She is expected to be charged with 'inciting to commit acts that cause serious disturbance to social security and incite discrimination'. Hun Sen, Cambodia's former prime minister, led the country for nearly four decades before stepping down in 2023 and assuming the role of senate president. Putrajaya was criticised by various human rights groups for allowing Nuon Toeun's deportation.
Free Malaysia Today
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Reformasi once at coffee shops, now in hotels, says Wong Chen
Subang MP Wong Chen has highlighted a shift in expectations among PKR members, saying they now want party events to be hosted at comfortable venues. KUALA LUMPUR : PKR MP Wong Chen has questioned the source of funds used to hold party events, lamenting that such events never used to be so lavish in the past. Speaking at a book launch here today, the Subang MP highlighted a shift in expectations among PKR members, saying they now want party events to be hosted at comfortable venues. Noting an increasing use of hotels for political events, Wong questioned the source of funding for such gatherings. 'In the past, our reformasi events were held at coffee shops and huts (pondok). Now, they're in hotels. Where's the money coming from? I honestly don't know,' he said. He said his salary of RM16,000 a month was barely enough to support his family, let alone fund political activities or events. 'We're underpaid for the expenses we bear, especially in hiring staff and running our constituencies,' he said, suggesting that Malaysia follow Singapore's model of higher salaries for elected officials. He was speaking at the launch of the book Misgovernance: Grand Corruption in Malaysia by Center to Combat Corruption and Cronyism chairman Edmund Terence Gomez. Wong also called for a fairer allocation of constituency development funds, which are currently not given to opposition MPs. 'Malaysia has rural areas and unique political needs, so we still need these funds – about RM3.5 million annually – for MPs to carry out community work. But the opposition must also receive them,' he said. He warned that opposition MPs might be tempted to defect for political gain without equitable funding.
