LIGHT MOMENT: Abdul Karim (centre) catching up with an old friend after the launching ceremony. Also in the photo is Julaihi (right). — Photo by Jeffery Mostapa
KUCHING: The recent increase in pension rate for government pensioners is not a gimmick to fish for votes, said Assistant Housing Minister Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.
Speaking at the opening of the 40th annual general meeting of Sarawak Pensioners Association (PPKS), he pointed out that pensioners now enjoy many benefits including the RM500 assistance under the 1Malaysia People’s Aid (BR1M) for households earning under RM3,000.
“All of these are not because the election is near,” he said. Abdul Karim was representing Housing Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg for the function.
Government pensioners are set to receive a corresponding 7 to 13 per cent increase in their monthly pensions to be paid beginning April, with arrears from January this year. This is following the Prime Minister’s announcement of the improved Malaysian Remuneration System (SSM).
Abdul Karim also reminded pensioners, who had yet to apply for BR1M assistance, to do so before the deadline on March 31.
On another matter, he also advised pensioners to continue contributing positively to the society even though they were no longer serving in the government service.
“Treat retirement days as golden stage of your life, not as sunset stage,” he said.
He also sympathised with PPKS when told that it needed to find a new headquarters because it must vacate the present premises at Rumah Ramin near Reservoir Park soon to make way for commercial development in the area.
PPKS currently occupies the Rumah Ramin, an old government building, under a special arrangement with the government. However, it is situated in a strategic and prime area near the city’s commercial centre.
As it would be costly to build a new building even if a piece of land is allocated, he suggested that the association and the others to consider taking over old government quarters, which can be renovated into a sleek new headquarters, citing several other associations that had succeeded to transform old government quarters into their new premises which could also be used for revenue generating activities.
Meanwhile, the association’s president Julaihi Ismail said a dinner would be held in August this year to raise funds.