More than half a million ringgit of the country's tax payers' money is paid to cabinet ministers and parliamentary secretaries as entertainment allowances.

In a shocking revelation, the Prime Minister's Department has finally released to members of Parliament, the much sought after figure despite saying that it was a "secret" when an Opposition leader asked the question during the last session in April.

In a written reply to a question raised by Kerk Kim Hock (DAP-Kota Melaka) on the matter on June 19, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Dr Rais Yatim today gave a breakdown of the amount, adding that the figures were effective January 2001.

In the breakdown, Rais stated that the amount of monthly entertainment allowances paid to the prime minister is RM18,865 with an additional allowance of RM8,500 for his post as a cabinet minister.

The deputy prime minister, added Rais, is paid RM15,215 with an additional allowance of RM6,700 for his ministerial post.

In addition to this amount, both the prime minister and his deputy enjoy free housing and monthly salaries of their house helpers are paid by the government.

Rais' figures also stated that a minister is paid a monthly allowance of RM12,320 with an extra RM4,000 for his role as a minister in the Cabinet.

A cabinet minister further enjoys a RM4,000 housing allowance and RM2,500 for house helpers. There are currently 26 full-fledged ministers in the Cabinet.

Deputy ministers are paid RM6,000 entertainment allowances, RM3,000 for housing and RM1,500 for house helpers. There are currently 28 deputy ministers.

Secretaries not left out

Parliamentary secretaries are paid RM4,200 monthly entertainment allowances, with an additional RM1,000 for housing and RM1,000 for a house helper. There are 15 parliamentary secretaries.

Political secretaries are not left out for they are each paid a monthly entertainment allowance of RM3,300, RM750 for housing and RM500 for helpers. The number of political secretaries cannot be ascertained.

These figures are not inclusive of the Cabinet minister's official monthly salary.

In the last sitting in March, Kerk's queries were rejected by the Parliamentary Secretary in the Prime Minister's Department Khamsiyah Yeop who said the amount cannot be released due to "public interest".

Parliament Speaker Mohamed Zahir Ismail supported her decision by saying that it is not compulsory for a minister to answer a question in Parliament in order to protect public interest.

Zahir added that the minister's decision not to answer a question is final, cannot be questioned or debated in Parliament.