PUTRAJAYA, May 7 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is confident that Malaysia’s economic landscape will significantly improve if civil servants are efficient and swift in carrying out their duties.
He stressed that if civil servants adhere to these principles in their daily tasks, the nation will attract global attention in terms of investments.
“So, focus on this aspect, and you will see that our economic landscape will change, and I wholeheartedly believe in it.
“Leave the rest (politics) to me and my colleagues,” Anwar said during the Finance Ministry’s monthly assembly today.
The Finance Minister added that foreign nations’ confidence in Malaysia is evident through their participation in the Defence Services Asia (DSA) and National Security (Natsec) Asia 2024 exhibitions, which has successfully drawn over 1,000 participants from more than 60 countries.
“This is rarely seen in exhibitions organised by developing countries like Malaysia,” he said.
Yesterday, Anwar officially opened the DSA and Natsec Asia 2024 exhibitions at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre in Kuala Lumpur. The exhibitions will run until Thursday (May 9).
In total, DSA and Natsec Asia 2024 see 324 companies participating, representing 60 countries, with 34 nations having their own pavilions, including Turkiye, China, the United Arab Emirates, Italy, and the United States.
Regarding civil servants who are not serious and committed to carrying out their daily tasks, the Prime Minister said strict actions would be taken against them.
“That is why I am sometimes stern with a small group of civil servants who deviate from this spirit. I always urge for fairness from society and the media… do not let the behaviour and misconduct of this minority reflect the discipline and spirit of civil servants as a whole,” he said.
In addition to the encouraging response to the DSA and Natsec Asia 2024 exhibitions, Anwar said Malaysia also received investments from Microsoft, Amazon Web Services (AWS) and ACWA Power (ACWA).
Microsoft recently announced a US$2.2 billion (RM10.38 billion) investment over the next four years, while AWS is set to invest RM25.5 billion in Malaysia, and ACWA Power will invest US$10 billion (RM47.2 billion) over the next decade.
He stressed that the performance of foreign investments, which would boost the country’s revenue, is taken into account when deciding on civil servants’ salary increases.
“Some argue it is not a rational economic policy — how can you spend more for your civil servants and then you want to reduce debt? I think it is about how we manage our economy and the expertise here,” Anwar said.
On May 1, in conjunction with the national-level 2024 Labour Day celebration, the Prime Minister announced a salary hike of more than 13 per cent for civil servants effective this December, involving an allocation of over RM10 billion.
— Bernama
