KUALA LUMPUR: The Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Services (Cuepacs) has questioned the recurring announcements about a salary increment for civil servants which were not fulfilled.
Its president Datuk Adnan Mat said although the government today pledged for drastic improvements in the remuneration scheme, it needed to do so quickly to ease the burden faced by civil servants.
"There was a prior announcement of (a proposed) salary increase in October. Until today, there has been no increase.
"The government has gives in its commitment in this. It has given statements, one after another, to increase salaries of civil servants next year or in the upcoming budget for 2025.
"But for us, it is too slow considering the needs of civil servants are immediate," Adnan told the New Straits Times.
He welcomed Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's assurance over the improvements for civil servants' remuneration scheme, but reminded the government to 'walk the talk'.
He said Cuepacs had previously advocated that it was necessary for the government to increase civil servants' salaries by RM300 to address the rising cost of living.
"The salary increment for civil servants should be done as soon possible. It is best that it is done before the end of this year," said Adnan, while urging the government not to wait for the completion of a new remuneration scheme to provide some assistance.
He said Cuepacs understood the constraints faced by the government, but something needed to be done to ease the people's burden.
"If it is not RM300, at least RM100 would do.
"As an early incentive or commitment, if the government does not increase the salary for civil servants, they should consider introducing other forms of assistance," he said.
Earlier, Anwar had said the currently under-review public service remuneration scheme would undergo a drastic improvement to reflect the country's changes in economic situation.
He assured that public servants, especially those in technical professions, would be prioritised in the review of the public services remuneration scheme.