THE government is trying to slightly raise the salaries of civil servants through the second Madani budget, to be tabled in parliament this October, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said.

He said this is a temporary measure until a comprehensive study on the salary and retirement scheme for civil servants is completed, which is expected next year.

“While waiting for the study to be completed next year, I will try to increase the salary slightly through the Madani budget this October,”  he said in his speech when officiating at the Geopark Discovery Centre in Langkawi today.

Anwar said it has been the government’s policy to review the salary scheme for civil servants every 10 years and this should have been done two years ago.

However, the prime minister said the previous government did not look into the matter and a meeting to discuss the issue was not even held.

“They had not held a meeting when I checked with the Public Service Department (PSD).

“The increment will depend on the government’s financial situation,” he said, adding that a slight increment should be given due to inflation.

Anwar said following a meeting with the chief secretary to the government, the Treasury secretary-general and the PSD director-general, the matter was looked into.

“We re-examined the files and as the finance minister, I said we must decide on giving salary increments to civil servants, including the police, military personnel as well as Langkawi Development Authority staff,” he said.

Meanwhile, Anwar said the government has also agreed to provide an overseas allowance for civil servants working in Langkawi, as enjoyed by civil servants from Sabah and Sarawak working in the peninsula (regional incentive payment).

“There was also a proposal to provide a sea ambulance to cater to the people in Pulau Tuba but I think this is not the right time for it (because of the state elections),” he said.

On Langkawi, Anwar said in an effort to rapidly develop the resort island, government departments and government-linked investment companies must be well-coordinated in implementing certain programmes.

“Big government companies like TNB, Khazanah must pay attention and have a plan to elevate Langkawi’s position as a top tourist destination,” he said.

As for private sector employees, Anwar said the government is in the final stages of its study to provide a financial allocation to help raise their wages. – Bernama, August 11, 2023.