PARLIAMENT Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Shahidan Kassim has dared opposition lawmakers to accept a 50 percent pay cut, in a heated argument over the civil service.

Shahidan made the dare after Rafizi Ramli (PKR-Pandan) proposed the Umno minister cut his own salary if he really wanted to champion civil servants.

"Cut my salary, no problem. Let's cut the salaries of all opposition MPs.

"Speaker, I propose a motion to cut all MPs salaries by 50 percent. Do you (opposition) agree?" Shahidan said.

The argument began when Shahidan interjected in opposition leader Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail's royal address debate speech, and accused DAP of launching a campaign to halve the civil service.

This prompted a salvo of rebuttals from opposition MPs.

Anthony Loke (DAP-Seremban) denied DAP had any campaign to halve the civil service, but only expressed concern about its size.

Wong Chen (PKR-Kelana Jaya) then pointed out that even Second Finance Minister Johari Abdul Ghani had said the civil service was bloated.

The argument lasted several minutes before settling down.

Once she controlled the floor again, Wan Azizah said there is indeed a concern about the civil service bloat.

However she stressed that civil servants were "providing good services and serving the country".

Shahidan, on the other hand, was not content with the exchange that transpired.

After the House proceedings ended at 5.30pm and deputy speaker Ronald Kiandee had vacated the room, Shahidan stood up to further taunt the opposition.

"The opposition is now scared of civil service," he said, while a bemused G Manivanan (PKR-Kapar) told the minister to listen in when it was his turn to debate the Agong's royal address.

Currently, Malaysia has 1.6 million civil servants and the government has to allocate RM76 billion each year for salaries and allowances.

Another RM21.6 billion is being spent annually for pensions.