PM announces RM100 pay hike, cash aid for civil servants

Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob today announced several incentives for civil servants including an additional RM100 to their annual salary increment (KGT) and special financial assistance (BKK) of RM700 for 2023.

He said the additional KGT of RM100 was for civil servants from Grade 11 to 56 and would be paid from January 2023 involving a total of 1.28 million recipients and a financial implication of RM1.5 billion.

"If the KGT for those in Grade 11 is currently RM80, in 2023 they will receive the basic KGT of RM80 and an additional RM100, bringing the total KGT to RM180," he said at the 18th Civil Service Premier Message Gathering (Mappa XVIII) attended by 4,000 civil servants and thousands of others online today.

He also announced the BKK of RM700 for civil servants of Grade 56 and below, as well as RM350 for government pensioners and non-pensionable veterans, also to be paid in January 2023.

"The grievances of civil servants are always heard by the government," he said amid cheers.

Mappa is an annual event where the prime minister delivers a message to civil servants from various public and civil services at the federal and state levels, as well as local governments and GLCs.

This year's edition was also attended by Chief Secretary to the Government Mohd Zuki Ali, director-general of public service Mohd Shafiq Abdullah and Cabinet members including Communications and Multimedia Minister Annuar Musa.

Cuepacs president Adnan Mat was also present.

At the event, Ismail also announced an increase of maximum days for the cash award in lieu of leave (GCR) to 180 days from the current 160.

"The government understands that because of the heavier tasks coming their way, many civil servants have not been able to take their annual leave. 

"With this increase in GCR, they can save their annual leave for a cash award for their retirement later," he said.

The prime minister also announced an additional five days of special annual leave, bringing the total to 15, for education service officers who have served for more than 10 years.

He said this would benefit approximately 500,000 teachers who could use it for emergencies or urgent matters, or save it for a higher GCR cash award.

He also announced an expansion of the definition of family members for unrecorded leave due to the death of close family members.

"Prior to this, unrecorded leave for funeral affairs was only subject to the death of husband or wife, biological mother and mother-in-law, biological father and father-in-law and children, but now, the definition of family members is extended to the siblings, grandmothers and grandfathers of the civil servant," he said.

He also announced an improvement to the annual salary movement for officers who have reached their maximum salary.

"The government has agreed to improve the fixed rate of 3% received by officers who have reached the maximum salary to a new rate which will be standardised according to grade for all service classifications, effective Jan 1, 2022," he said.

Ismail said the Public Service Department (PSD) would issue a circular to provide a detailed explanation of the matter.

He said the government also agreed that the PSD should speed up its study on the public service remuneration system by taking into account the overall aspects of human capital development.

“The study should also cover all aspects of remuneration and services so as to be relevant to the current situation and the government’s financial capability,” he said.