Special assistance reflects govt’s commitment to reviewing salary scheme, civil servants say

The ‘Bantuan Khas Penghargaan’, a special appreciation aid for the country’s civil servants which was announced under the MADANI Economy: Empowering the People initiative yesterday has been deemed as the government’s commitment to revising the current public service salary scheme.

A nurse at a health clinic in Kerian, Perak, Noor Shila Mat Sharrif, 32, told Bernama that she hoped the government has begun the efforts to review the public service salary scheme to help them cope with the rising cost of living.

“This government initiative is timely with the current situation faced by the civil servants,” she said.

Yesterday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim while speaking at the launching of the “MADANI Economy: Empowering the People” initiative said the government will be disbursing the special assistance of RM300 to civil servants of Grade 56 and below as an appreciation for their contribution for the country’s economic development, adding that the payment is expected to be made within two weeks from now.

Anwar, who is also the Finance Minister, said the announcement on the special aid was made while the review of the civil servants’ salaries and allowances is being done.

He also announced a similar aid of RM200 to retirees, including those currently receiving their pensions including pension recipients issued under the pension law, EPF retirees who retire from public service, as well as pensionable and non-pensionable veterans.

Mohd Fadzil Abdul Razak, 51, who works at the Pekan district Land Office in Pahang said the government’s initiative proved its commitment to helping the civil servants who are grappling with the rising cost of living, adding that he hoped that this initiative could be extended to all Malaysians.

“Hopefully this type of initiative can be maintained because it can help the affected groups in times of need,” he said.

Meanwhile, a retiree from Klang, Selangor, Muhammad Yunus Tukiman, 67, said he was grateful for the assistance extended to retirees.

“Alhamdulillah. Thank you to the MADANI government for the concern shown to retirees. Hopefully, this assistance can ease the burden of our daily expenses that are getting higher and may the effort to help the people, especially retirees, continues,” he said.