TWO advisers to the Prime Minister – Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil on women and social development affairs and Tan Sri Dr Abdul Hamid Othman on religious matters – and Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who is adviser to Petronas, earn a combined RM1.134mil annually, said Zulkifli Noordin (PKR – Kulim Bandar Baru) at a press conference at the Parliament lobby yesterday.

He said that in a written reply to his question from the Prime Minister, it was revealed that Tun Dr Mahathir was paid RM15,000 a month.

He added that the written reply also revealed that Shahrizat earned RM33,727.20 a month or RM404,726.40, including allowances, annually, while religious affairs adviser Tan Sri Dr Abdul Hamid received RM27,163 a month.

“Another RM18,643.25 is spent on Hamid’s supporting staff, bringing the annual total of Hamid’s office to RM549,675 annually,” he said.

Zulkifli said that it was redundant to have the advisers as there was the Petronas board to advise the Prime Minister and ministers in the right portfolios to advise Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on matters relating to religion, and women and social development affairs.

“Why are we supporting pensioners who are jobless?” he asked.

Earlier, he had raised this issue during the debate on the motion of thanks on the royal address by Ahmad Maslan (BN - Pontian), who was then speaking on hardcore poverty in the country.

“Isn’t it better to just give the money to the poor?” said Zulkifli.

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