WHILE the government’s intention of raising the remuneration of civil servants is to reward and motivate them, such policies should be based on principles of merit, fairness and justice, said a Wanita MCA leader.
Its deputy chairperson Tee Hooi Ling noted that establishing a robust performance evaluation and monitoring mechanisms to reward outstanding and meritorious performance while penalising laziness and incompetence within the public sector is essential.
“It is a disservice to taxpayers if indolent and inept civil servants are rewarded with a 13% pay hike as this not only undermines public interest but also tarnishes the overall image and reputation of the civil service,” she said in a statement on Monday (May 6).
“Therefore, the government needs to carefully weigh the interests of all parties and consider the long-term implications when formulating policies regarding civil service salary pay hikes.”
Tee was referring to the recent announcement by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim of a more than 13% increase in civil servants’ salaries.
On May 1, Anwar also said civil servants will take home a minimum overall monthly income of RM2,000 under the revamped Public Service Remuneration System (SSPA) which would take effect in December this year.
According to Tee, civil servants are the backbone of government institutions, and their performance directly impacts the administrative efficiency and quality of public services.
“Therefore, the government must ensure that civil service remuneration aligns with their performance and delivery and cannot be simply measured by the length of service, salary, relationships with superiors or titles,” she stressed.
“The government’s announcement of a 13% salary ascent for civil servants, along with raising the minimum wage from RM1,700 to RM2,000, will result with an additional expenditure of approximately RM10 bil for the country.
“Wanita MCA hopes this announcement is not a mere tactic ahead of the upcoming Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election. The government needs to be cautioned against burdening the nation further just to appease civil servants.”
In addition to a climb in salaries, Wanita MCA also called for the government to provide more training programmes tailored to sectors where the country urgently needs skilled and semi-skilled workers while also offering opportunities for advancement to civil servants who perform well.
Tee said collaboration with non-governmental organisations, unions, experts, and scholars should be sought to jointly study and discuss the formulation and implementation of salary increment policies, ensuring their scientific basis and fairness.
“Furthermore, Wanita MCA hopes the government will earnestly address the concerns and suggestions of the various industries in society and transparently disclose the specific content and implementation details of the salary increment policy to the public,” she added.
“This thereby promotes reforms, transparency and enhancements in the public sector while contributing positively to the construction of a more just, egalitarian, and harmonious society.” – May 7, 2024
Main pic credit: The Sun
