Ever wondered if your elected leaders are getting paid too much or not enough?
Around the world, the salaries of politicians vary wildly, with some earning modest sums and others raking in amounts that dwarf the average citizen’s income.
In Malaysia, that question becomes especially relevant when you realise one important fact: MPs are paid with taxpayer money.
So naturally, many believe the public has every right to know how much their representatives are making—and how that compares to the rest of the world.
Malaysian MPs earn 4x the national average
Let’s start with the basics.
According to a Yahoo Finance report, Members of the Malaysian Parliament receive a basic annual salary of RM201,840 (US$43,290) which is nearly four times the country’s average income.
However, their compensation doesn’t stop there.
On top of the base salary, Malaysian MPs are entitled to a range of additional benefits, including:
- Business class flight tickets
- Entertainment allowances
- Official clothing subsidies
These perks significantly boost their overall income, making their total annual package far more generous than the basic salary alone.
How does Malaysia compare to other countries?
To put things into perspective, it helps to look at how politicians are paid around the globe. Some receive salaries that barely match the national average, while others earn in figures that raise eyebrows.
Here’s a quick breakdown:
Lowest paid worldwide
In some of the world’s least developed countries, MP salaries are shockingly low—even lower than the national average.
- Burundi: US$720 (RM3,355) annually – 10x less than the national average
- Ethiopia: US$1,320 (RM6,150) – around two-thirds of average national income
- Ukraine: US$8,770 (RM40,880) – 1.5x the national average
Asian neighbours
Among our regional neighbours, salaries vary widely based on economic conditions and political structures.
- India: US$13,800 (RM64,300) – 2x the national average
- China: US$18,860 (RM87,900) – paid only to specific committee members
- Philippines: US$62,640 (RM291,900) – 13x the national average
- Singapore: US$144,100 (RM671,300) – 3x the national average
Western and developed countries
In wealthier nations, political salaries also follow the pattern of exceeding the average income—but not excessively.
- UK: US$121,973 (RM568,300) – 3x the national average
- Australia: US$146,930 (RM684,700) – 3.5x the national average
- USA: US$174,000 (RM810,800) – 3x the national average
Where the gap is widest
Some countries stand out not for how much they pay, but for how disproportionate the pay is compared to citizens’ earnings.
- Colombia: US$105,710 (RM492,600) – 23x average national income
- Brazil: US$90,980 (RM423,900) – 18x the national average
Is higher pay really the answer to corruption?
Now here’s a common argument: If politicians are well-paid, they’re less likely to accept bribes. It sounds logical but does it hold up?
In reality, the relationship between salary and integrity isn’t so clear-cut.
For instance, Burundi, which offers the lowest MP pay, also ranks as one of the most corrupt countries in the world according to Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index.
But take Denmark, its MPs earn a respectable US$120,320 (RM560,700) annually, and the country consistently ranks as the least corrupt globally. This challenges the idea that only high pay can prevent misconduct.
So, where does Malaysia really stand?
Zooming out, Malaysia sits somewhere in the middle of the global pay scale.
Local MPs earn more than their peers in many developing countries but less than those in top-tier economies like the US or Australia.
However, with a salary four times higher than the national average, Malaysian politicians are still relatively well-paid, especially when additional allowances are factored in.
