By Ashley Sim and Nur Ashikin Louis
KUCHING, Feb 7: Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg emphasises that an endowment fund for public services can be established if the State’s economy is thriving.
Abang Johari stated this today during the 2023 Chinese New Year and Chap Goh Mei celebration hosted by the Office of Premier of Sarawak (OPS), which was held at the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly (DUN) here.
“It is true that we in the government want to find a way for our (civil) service scheme to evolve with the present time.
“Meaning that an approach that not only improves the position of the civil service, but also be relevant to your position as a trustee and implementer of government policies from the perspective of compensation.
“If our economy is strong, we can certainly establish an endowment fund for public services, as other countries have done,” he said.
Abang Johari further said that the Sarawak government is currently conducting a study to create its own salary scheme for the civil service.
He also mentioned that the top 10 least corrupt nations in the world ranked by Transparency International which includes Singapore, Sweden, Finland and Norway, are countries that provide high and suitable salaries that are proportional to the positions and accountability.
“That is why I think Malaysia and Sarawak have to look from that angle, and I am confident that all these social problems in terms of corruption can be mitigated, if not, abolished, so that we can (be listed) within the high ranking (countries) by Transparency International,” he added.
Amongst those present were Deputy Premiers Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan and Dato Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian; Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) Speaker Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar; Sarawak Secretary Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki; and Deputy Sarawak Secretary Datu Hii Chang Kee. — DayakDaily
