KOTA KINABALU, Aug 18 — Civil servants in the country are in need of a new remuneration system which is capable of assisting them in managing the current cost of living, said the Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Services’ (Cuepacs) president Datuk Adnan Mat.
He likened the Malaysian Remuneration System (SSM), first implemented in 2002, to an old house no longer suitable to assist civil servants facing the current cost of living, to meet departmental structure, the changing work scope, and to evaluate the suitable qualification into any service scheme.
Nonetheless, Cuepacs understands the government needs time to finalise a suitable new remuneration system. Therefore, it is urging the government to implement value add to the existing system such as higher allowances or other fixed remuneration to help civil servants who are affected by the increase in the cost of living.
“We are grateful to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for being concerned with our request, among other things, to increase the salaries of civil servants ahead of the presentation of the Budget in October. We express this gratitude with productivity, quality and integrity in work.
“However, we want a new salary system to replace the SSM, but if the government is unable to afford it at the moment, we request the government give increment to fixed remuneration earlier… if it is possible to increase the salary this October,” Adnan said.
He was speaking to the press after the Civil Servant Assembly in conjunction with the Cuepacs Madani Merdeka programme, earlier today.
On August 11, Anwar was reported to have said that the government is trying to increase civil servants’ salaries slightly through the second Madani Budget that will be presented in Parliament this October.
The Prime Minister said it would be a temporary measure until a comprehensive review of the civil servant salary and retirement scheme was completed, which is expected next year.
— Bernama
