PKR vice-president Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad has slammed PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang for allegedly claiming that the federal government was planning to reduce or abolish pensions for civil servants.
Nik Nazmi, who is also the Setiawangsa MP, said the government’s proposal was merely to review the benefits of all existing pension schemes and to explore the options of hiring new civil servants with new retirement benefits such as the Employees Provident Fund (KWSP) to replace the existing retirement scheme.
“In fact, Hadi in his speech (on the motion of thanks on the Royal Address) had given the impression that contributing to EPF was un-Islamic,” the Kelantan and Terengganu PKR chief said in a statement on Thursday (March 7).
“Does the former Terengganu menteri besar and ex-special envoy to the Middle East not understand that the EPF is also a retirement protection scheme?”
According to the Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister, the Kelantan Islamic Foundation (YIK), a state government agency, had also introduced a new pension scheme with contributions to the EPF.
“Why didn’t PAS voice out its objection to this when YIK announced their plan?” he asked.
“As a religious person, Hadi shouldn’t issue such an ignorant statement that does not give an accurate picture of the federal government’s proposal which is at the same time contradictory to the actions of the Kelantan state government and PAS itself.”
On Wednesday (March 6), Hadi in his speech had criticised the government for considering non-pensionable civil service jobs, saying it does not fit the Madani slogan touted by the federal administration.
According to Hadi, all elected representatives must be treated fairly, adding that regardless who is the government after the general election, elected representatives must be given an allocation whether they are with the government or the opposition.
“This is what is called being fair, because taxes are collected from all. Clothes are taxed, services are taxed. They don’t ask whether the person (supports) the government or opposition,” he was reported as telling the lower House. – March 7, 2024
Main pic credit: Utusan Malaysia
