Salary adjustments involve additional allocation of RM6 bln

5

JOHOR BAHARU: The salary adjustments based on the improved version of the Malaysian Remuneration System (SSM) following the abolition of the Public Service New Remuneration Scheme (SBPA) involves an additional allocation of RM6 billion, said Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

The prime minister said the additional allocation would enable more civil servants to enjoy maximum salary adjustments, especially those in the perfunctory or support groups.

“This time around we want more civil servants to enjoy maximum salary adjustments up to 13 per cent, so we decided to give increments up to grade 54.

“With this, we have to find the additional allocation, which involves more than RM6 billion, but the actual amount is still being worked out,” he told reporters after opening Sekolah Agama Taman Molek here yesterday.

Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman and Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin were present.

The prime minister said the additional allocation also included increases in the Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) provisions.

He brushed aside the claim by opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim that the SBPA was abolished due to pressure from the opposition.

“Looking back on the 2012 Budget which I had presented in October last year, I gave a commitment that civil servants would be receiving salary adjustments from seven to 13 per cent.

“But when the SBPA was being worked out, it was way off the estimates mentioned in my announcement. Hence, the government decided to go back to the commitment that I had given in October last year.

“It has nothing to do with the opposition’s claim. As usual, he (Anwar) wants to take credit for our work. It is the opposition way,” said Najib.

He said the cancellation of the SBPA had also nothing to do with the 13th general election but rather to fulfil the promises made by the government in the 2012 Budget.

On the coming general election, Najib said he was confident that the Barisan Nasional (BN) would retain Johor.

“In Johor, there are many stories of joy, so it is still one of the states that hold allegiance to the BN. We can feel it,” he said.

He said, however, the state government should continue to reach out to all levels of the society with humility so that the people would continue to support the BN. — Bernama