By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, March 21: The federal government has agreed to provide a special Hari Raya Aidilfitri financial assistance of RM500 to civil servants in Grade 56 and below and a payment of RM250 to all government retirees, including pensionable and non-pensionable veterans.
According to Bernama, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said that payments would be made on March 24.
“Although I considered the matter of civil servant bonuses to have been settled in February, the government has seriously reviewed the matter, given the improved administration, better service and dedication of our civil servants.
“So, I have decided that Insya-Allah, we will distribute RM500 to each civil servant in Grade 56 and below next week, and RM250 to retirees, including both pensionable and non-pensionable veterans,” he told reporters after performing Friday prayers at Masjid Sultan Abdul Samad in the Kuala Lumpur International Airport today.
He added that an allocation of nearly RM900 million would be involved, which would benefit 1.6 million civil servants and retirees.
“With stronger economic growth, improved national revenue, and a more organised and disciplined civil service, we have been able to control leakages better, although some persist,” he said.
He also hoped that civil servants would understand the government’s firm stance on governance to prevent leakages and corruption within the public service.
“This is why it is important that when the government generates revenue, we return it to the people,” he said.
Meanwhile, in a separate statement, the Finance Ministry announced that the special Adilifitri assistance would also be extended to contract-appointed officers and staff, including those under a contract of service, contract for service, daily part-time positions, and MySTEP appointments.
The statement further clarified that the RM250 aid for government retirees would cover pensioned retirees, derivative pension recipients, Employees Provident Fund (EPF) retirees, as well as both pensionable and non-pensionable veterans.
In addition to civil servants, the MADANI government will also bring forward the Phase 2 disbursement of Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) for nine million recipients, starting March 24, with an allocation of RM1.7 billion. — DayakDaily
