THE salary hike for civil servants should not be a subject of debate, Human Resources Minister Steven Sim Chee Keong said.

He said the unity government valued all workers in the country, including those in the private sector, as evidenced by the review of minimum wage rates through the progressive wage policy to ensure that they receive higher wages in tandem with increased productivity.

“These civil servants are frontline workers. If we want to boost our country’s economy to create better job opportunities, then we need civil servants who have higher productivity and efficiency.

“Therefore, with the appreciation given to civil servants, I believe it will motivate them to continue carrying out their duties to collectively develop the country’s economy,” he said in Hulu Selangor last night.

Yesterday, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahi, announced that civil servants would receive a salary increment of more than 13% starting December this year, marking one of the highest increases in the nation’s history.

Sim said that last year, the country received RM329.5 billion in investments with the help of its civil servants.

“With this investment, our economy has expanded and there will be better-paying job opportunities. So there is a symbiotic relationship and cooperation, not competition,” he added. – May 2, 2024.