KUCHING: The Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Services (Cuepacs) Sarawak wants all federal civil servants in the state to remain calm over the proposal on direct salary deductions to raise funds for flood victims.
The proposal, announced by Cuepacs president Datuk Azih Muda on Sunday, will be handed to Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Dr Ali Hamsa very soon, and is likely to be implemented this month if approved.
“Let us keep in mind that this initiative is still in the proposal stage. Everyone should be more positive and not get easily agitated by it (proposal),” said Cuepacs Sarawak secretary Ahmad Malie to The Borneo Post yesterday.
He also said the people should not be too worried as the salary deduction would not be carried out every month. Instead, it would be on a one-off basis if the proposal went through.
The proposal, he added, would also reflect unity among federal civil servants, some of whom are victims of the severe floods in the peninsula’s east coast.
Cuepacs Sarawak also hoped that the one-off deduction from each federal civil servant would only be RM1, he said.
If approved, it would raise at least RM1.5 million for the flood victims.
“We understand that the mere mention of salary deduction is scary, but keep in mind that RM1 is a very humble donation to make.”
Ahmad, also Sarawak Bumiputera Teachers Union president, said that this initiative by Cuepacs deserved the support of all federal civil servants and not be blown out of proportion to create issues and dissatisfaction.
On the federal civil servant bonus, he said the government had agreed to pay the bonus before the end of this month.
“It becomes sad that there are a lot of rumours spreading on social media relating to this year’s bonus, which will be paid on a certain date.
“When it was found to be untrue, it had caused unhappiness among the people, who will in turn blame the federal government for the unfulfilled promise.”
In light of this, Ahmad urged all federal civil servants not to fall victim to these unverified news sources as it was merely rumour.