Most civil servants in the state welcome the nudge from the Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Services (CUEPACS) to review the Malaysian Remuneration System (SSM) in order to fulfill current economic needs and living costs.
It is also in line with the government’s hope to improve the quality of public service delivery.
Mohd Amri Ismail, 32, a general clerk, said that the suggestion will surely enthuse civil servants when the new salary scale which will be tabled then suits the ongoing economic situation.
“This doesn’t mean that civil servants are ungrateful with existing remuneration schemes, but the new salary scale will improve capability to save money.
“Salaries aren’t only to accommodate living costs but also to improve our ability to save money or make investment. It’s all for the future,” he expressed.
Aliana Ahmad Radzi, 24, an administrative assistant, shares a similar opinion, describing the urge from CUEPACS as mandatory as the SSM implemented from November 2002 to improve remuneration schemes has not been studied or upgraded.
“The scheme upgrade is undoubtedly also for upcoming civil servants in future when the government offers equivalent or better remuneration.
“Thus we can’t look at the suggestion only for betterment of current civil staff. This is because if the new scheme is approved, it’ll also be used for a certain timeframe,” she added.
For Muhamad Faid Harris, the new SSM implementation will provide a new image to public service with a better salary scale, apart from other amenities.
Yesterday (March 14), the president of CUEPACS, Adnan Mat said that it is time for the government to review the existing scheme.
He posited that the review must be performed immediately, since the scheme was enacted based on situations of the economy and living standards back in 2002.
Some of the matters to be prioritised in the new SSM include establishment of the minimum wage at RM1,800 per month.
Rosli Mansor
