Govt to introduce regional incentive payment for armed forces personnel

The government has approved the regional incentive payment (BIW) to replace the Sabah/Sarawak incentive payment (BISS) and the peninsula incentive payment (BISM) to members of the Malaysian armed forces (ATM), effective July 1.

The news was announced by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim at a meet-and-greet with armed forces personnel at the 5th brigade headquarters at Lok Kawi Camp, Kota Kinabalu, in Putatan, today.

Anwar said the approval would benefit a total of 33,586 ATM personnel, with an additional financial implication of RM87.8 million per year, based on the recruitment in 2022.

He said that previously ATM officers and personnel who were transferred to different regions received BISS and BISM, but the two incentives provided were lower compared with the BIW rate received by other civil servants.

"Furthermore, the basis of payment for all three incentives is the same, which is to cover the high cost of living as well as to encourage officers from the peninsula to serve in Sabah or Sarawak, and vice versa," he said.

Also present at the event were Sabah Chief Minister Hajiji Noor, Defence Minister Mohamad Hasan, Deputy Chief Minister III Shahelmey Yahya, army chief general Mohammad Ab Rahman and public service department director-general Zulkapli Mohamed.

Anwar also announced a new project involving the redevelopment of 49 units of derelict houses into 47 units of public quarters and a transit house for the defence ministry Sabah branch in Taman Lok Kawi worth RM25 million.

As for the existing projects, Anwar said the government allocated RM213 million to build additional multi-class units of the armed forces family housing scheme at Lok Kawi Camp.

Commenting on the development project in Putatan, Anwar said as much as RM67 million was allocated to upgrade Jalan Lok Kawi from Sabindo roundabout to Sungai Kinarut, apart from RM4.8 million to repair and upgrade the aviary at the Lok Kawi Wildlife Park.

"The government is also committed to building the new Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Lok Kawi, costing RM23 million, which will be developed as soon as possible," he said.