Putrajaya: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim called on civil servants to maintain integrity in their duties to justify the recognition and trust bestowed on them by the government through salary adjustment under the Public Service Payroll Scheme (SSPA).
Speaking at a monthly meeting with Prime Minister’s Office officials here today, he said civil servants should identify those who tarnish their reputation.
“I therefore ask you to monitor your departments and colleagues to identify those who tarnish the reputation of civil servants, while also bringing about somewhat fundamental changes in the recognition and remuneration of civil servants.
“There is a small group that is involved in corruption, absenteeism, different issues. Should we treat this small group the same way? My answer is no, we do not provide the same treatment,” he said. .
Also present were Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Datuk Seri Fadila Yusof, as well as Government Chief Secretary Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali.
Anwar, who is also finance minister, said the government had taken the radical and bold decision to increase public servant salaries at a time when the country has not fully recovered from economic uncertainty, leakages and corruption. .
“Based on economic considerations, standard economic theory, all salary increases should be postponed until the economy is more stable, which means less debt.
“But I look at it in terms of ticks, compassion, humanity, efficiency levels and sustainability. Why are mistakes not just made by civil servants, but sometimes due to mismanagement and negligence by many other parties? Should the responsibility be placed on public servants?
“Based on this idea, we should not burden them with the burden. Taking the bold decision (to raise the salaries of civil servants) is appropriate as a father figure to a large government family,” he said.
He said the decision to increase salaries of civil servants had been thoroughly discussed with senior government officials including Mohd Zuki and Department of Public Service director-general Datuk Seri Wan Ahmad Dahlan Abdul Aziz.
Mr. Anwar said the government’s decision to increase civil servant salaries was to instill confidence among public sector workers that the Madani government leadership was truly serious about finding the best possible way to support them. Ta.
Mr. Anwar expressed confidence that the proposed salary increase for civil servants would be approved by parliament during the 2025 budget session in October.
“Some people object that Congress may not approve it because it hasn’t been decided yet.
“I want to know which MPs want to object. Even if they object, we have Pakatan Harapan, Barisan Nasional, Gabungan Parti Sarawak and Gabungan Rakyat Sabah with a two-thirds majority ( “Support), Insha Allah,” he said.
On May 1, in line with the national Labor Day 2024 celebrations, President Anwar allocated more than RM10 billion for civil servants and announced a salary increase of more than 13% from December this year.
Mr Anwar said the salary adjustment under the SSPA review will ensure that the lowest-ranking civil servants earn at least RM2,000 a month. – Barnama
