The minister in charge of parliamentary affairs said it makes more sense to categorise MPs under the Jusa C grade instead of Grade 54, which he pointed out is meant for administrative staff in the civil service.

“For lawmakers, they should be in Jusa C as they are in policy management,” he told reporters after the prime minister’s Budget 2015 speech in Parliament.

The Public Service Premier Post (Jusa) is the premium grade position for very senior positions in the civil service.

Meanwhile Grade 41 to 54 are for management and professional positions in the civil service.

According to a 2013 circular by the Civil Service Department, the minimum pay for the Jusa C level is RM7,189.63.

MPs currently are currently paid RM6,500 monthly. They are also given allowable claims for entertainment, a driver, travel expenses, telephone bills, as well as a daily and meeting allowances, which amount to about RM6,000.

“Their basic (after the hike) will be around RM7,000 plus, it shouldn’t be a big issue,” Shahidan said.

Putrajaya announced an increase to allowances for the country’s 222 federal lawmakers and 70 senators in Budget 2015, apart from pledging to review the salary schemes of its administrative members, including that of the prime minister, his deputy and all other ministers.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said during the tabling of Budget 2015 that the MPs’ allowances would be increased from the equivalent grade 54 to the equivalent grade Jusa C, while Senators’ allowances would be increased from the equivalent grade 48 to the equivalent between grade 54 and Jusa C.

The prime minister also said the salaries and allowances of the Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara speakers, as well as their deputies, will be raised effective January 1 next year.

Najib added that Putrajaya will review his administration’s salary scheme, including that of the prime minister, deputy prime minister, ministers and deputy ministers, and decide in due time.