PUTRAJAYA – Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is calling for significant shifts and changes in salary adjustments to be implemented through a review of the Public Service Remuneration System.
The prime minister emphasised the necessity of salary adjustments to be aligned with a paradigm shift, taking into account the country’s current needs.
“This paradigm shift doesn’t involve minor amendments, it entails drastic changes such as salary adjustments. It is not merely minor changes such as additional allowances.
“We need to consider the country’s present needs rather than those of 20 years ago in (terms of) salary adjustments,” he said during the National Technical Profession Day celebration here today.
Also present were Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali and Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi.
Yesterday, Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil hinted that there may be some good news for civil servants next year, most likely involving a salary increase.
Fahmi, who is the unity government’s spokesman, said the good news would also involve pensioners and would be announced by either Anwar or Zuki.
Anwar also assured that the issue of salary adjustments for technical professions in the public service would be prioritised in the remuneration study.
He said that despite the growing prominence of technical fields, especially in education, technical and vocational education and training, engineering and information technology, salary adjustments have remained stagnant, which he finds unreasonable.
“The group of technical professionals has expanded, and their importance in building and driving the country’s progress is recognised. The government needs to address this situation,
“Therefore, we have established a salary coordination committee. It’s unreasonable that civil servants, after 10 years, have reached the end of their period with no streamlining,” he said.
“I assure you that in reassessing the entire salary adjustment system, technical professions will be given priority.”
Anwar also urged professional bodies in the sector to provide reasonable input on salary adjustments.
“I assure you, God willing, that in the lengthy review process, the professional body represented today must contribute sufficient input. As long as it (adjustments) is not too much (to ask), we will give attention to what is reasonable.” – December 5, 2023