Mavcom head's salary not the highest

PETALING JAYA: The revelation that the Malaysian Aviation Commission (Mavcom) executive chairman Gen (R) Tan Sri Abdullah Ahmad earns about RM85,000 a month is only the tip of the iceberg.
A source said this revelation does not actually paint a true picture as Abdullah is one of the lowest paid chairmen when it comes to such bodies and government-linked companies.
"There are some commission chairmen that get a monthly salary in the region of RM150,000 to RM180,000. Abdullah's salary was only decided after studying the salary structure of other such bodies.
"Those involved decided that the supposed market rate given to other commission chairmen should not apply to Mavcom, therefore his salary was lower than others," the source said.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke had said Abdullah's salary is over four times what Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad earns.
Loke said Mahathir had instructed the salary review after it was revealed that the Mavcom chief's monthly salary and allowances totalled RM78,300 in 2016.
He said there was a 3% increment in 2017, and a further 5% in 2018, so he is earning about RM85,000 a month.
"That is more than what the prime minister earns. His basic salary is just about RM20,000 (a month).
"I raised this in the Cabinet meeting and the Prime Minister has directed the Chief Secretary to the Government (Tan Sri Ali Hamsa) to review all salaries – not just of the Mavcom chairman's, but also chairmen of other statutory bodies and GLCs," Loke said.
The source said unlike many other statutory bodies, Mavcom does not have a chief executive, that job falls under the executive chairman.
"Some statutory bodies such as Pemandu had paid their directors 'who were nothing more than glorified managers', about RM100,000 a month," the source said.
The source added that some of those directors had previously been earning below RM10,000 before moving to Pemandu.
"All salaries of those working at statutory bodies should be reviewed and they should be paid according to the job they do," the source added.
The source said most of those heading such bodies must realise that they are doing a public duty and therefore should not expect very high salaries.