It is heartening to note that the government is going to implement a better remuneration package for civil servants this year, despite the challenging economic situation and revenue shortfall.
It is the right decision by the government to reward its employees for their hard work in delivering services to the public and their contribution to national development.
Some 1.6 million people in the civil service will be entitled to increased take-home pay when the revised remuneration package, announced in the 2016 Budget, comes into effect on July 1.
About 60,000 public sector employees will benefit from the RM1,200 minimum monthly wage. Currently, many government servants in the Implementation Group receive a basic monthly salary of RM850, which is below the poverty line.
Under the revised scheme, some 50,000 pensioners with at least 25 years of service would receive a minimum pension of RM950 a month.
With a better salary package, civil servants must continue to ensure efficient delivery of services.
The pay rise should be an incentive for them to do their utmost and go the extra mile in serving the public.
The country’s civil service has come a long way since Merdeka. It is undeniable that the quality of public service delivery has improved over the years but a lot more needs to be done to meet public expectations.
With a better work environment, efficient work process due to adoption of IT, training, career progression opportunities, incentives, allowances and salaries there is no reason why government servants should not be more productive, innovative and strive towards achieving excellence in serving the nation.
Civil servants play a crucial role in the country’s development. They are the backbone of the nation.
Politicians come and go but civil servants stay to implement the policies and strategies decided by the government of the day.
The image of any government is, to a large extent, reflected by the quality, attitude and performance of its civil service.
As the country is four years away from achieving developed nation status, more effort should be made to improve the civil service so that it will be more productive, accountable and transparent.
To achieve this, it is necessary for civil servants to have a work culture which incorporates discipline, ethics, responsibility and integrity and full commitment to its implementation.
There should be continuous improvement and one of them is being sensitive to public complaints and suggestions so that appropriate and speedy actions can be taken and weaknesses can be addressed.
Civil servants must also go down to the ground regularly to understand the needs of the public, so that their plans and strategies would be drawn up according to the needs of the people.
I would also like to propose that the government, when tabling the annual Budget, provides better benefits for pensioners in recognition of their contribution to the country.
This would make life easier for them in their golden years.
TAN SRI LEE LAM THYE, Kuala Lumpur