LANGKAWI, Aug 11 — The government is trying to slightly raise civil servants’ salaries through the second Madani Budget that will be tabled in Parliament in October, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
He said this is a temporary measure until a comprehensive study on the salary and retirement scheme for civil servants is completed, which is expected next year.
“While waiting for the study to be completed next year, I will try to increase the salary slightly through the Madani Budget in October,” he said in his speech when officiating the Geopark Discovery Centre here today.
Anwar said it is government policy, if able, to recalibrate civil servants’ salaries every decade. This round is overdue by two years.
The Prime Minister said the previous administration did not even discuss the move, adding that wages must be increased in line with the rise in inflation.
“As Finance Minister, I said there needs to be an increase in civil servants’ salaries, including those of police and military personnel,” he said.
On July 13, Anwar said civil servants’ salaries will be upped in stages based on the country’s economic capabilities, after the issue was tabled during his meeting with Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali and Public Service Director-General Datuk Zulkapli Mohamed.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister said Putrajaya will disburse sea-crossing allowance for civil servants in Langkawi, similar to the incentive enjoyed by civil servants from Sabah and Sarawak who work in the peninsula.
“There were concerns about how the ill in Pulau Tuba will go to Langkawi, so we have ordered a water ambulance, but I will not launch it now (due to the state elections),” he said.
The Finance Minister said to drive Langkawi’s development, all government departments and government-linked investment companies must be on the same page to implement certain programmes.
“Every big government company, like TNB and Khazanah, must … formulate plans to elevate Langkawi’s tourism potential.”
For private sector workers, Anwar said the government is in the final stages of its study on allocating funds to increase their wages.
“What about workers like those at hotels, companies and factories, when our civil servants get pay rises? I asked the Economy Ministry to perform a study on whether there are countries that use government funds to bolster private sector wages, and there are. It is not easy to do in the current economic conditions, but no matter what, the issues the people face must be addressed,” he said.
— Bernama
