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By Geryl Ogilvy Ruekeith
KUCHING: The financial aid and increase in housing allowance as announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak recently should serve as a motivation for civil servants to continue giving high standard of service to the people.
State Congress of Union Employees in the Public and Civil Service (Cuepacs) president Ahmad Malie, said civil servants should be grateful with the announcement despite many other requests by the congress such as minimum wage rise and improved Cost of Living Allowance (Cola) that had yet to be met.
He also said the announcement showed that Najib’s administration was concerned about the welfare of and facilities for civil servants.
“Sarawak Cuepacs highly welcomes the announcement made by the prime minister in regard to the special Ramadan and Aidilfitri financial aid as well as increase in housing allowance. At least the prime minister has responded to the demand of Cuepacs all this while, even though some of our requests have yet to be met.
“We hope that civil servants would be grateful with the announcement. At the same time, we hope the civil servants would continue to give the best service to the people,” Ahmad said in a statement yesterday.
On Wednesday, Najib announced a special financial aid of RM500 to civil servants Grade 54 and below in view of Ramadan and Aidilfitri. He also said that RM250 would be paid to the over 700,000 government pensioners. The payment of the aid would be made on June 25, involving a sum of RM1 billion.
Najib, who is also Finance Minister, also announced a raise from RM180 to RM300 in housing allowance of civil servants on Grade 41 and below. In addition, he mentioned that those who resided in government quarters and did not enjoy this allowance would be given 25 per cent of the actual housing allowance they were eligible for. The move would take effect on Nov 1 this year, set to benefit more than 1.1 million civil servants nationwide.
Ahmad – who is also Sarawak Bumiputera Teachers Union (KGBS) president – said in this regard, the state Cuepacs was confident that Najib would consider other requests such as salary increments, as well as improved regional allowance and Cola.
Source: BORNEO POST online
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