AS the Pakatan Harapan government seeks public feedback for its first national budget to be tabled in November, most of the respondents are demanding reform in the public sector.

Most of the responses submitted so far on the 2019 Budget official website in the past 10 days are under the “public sector reform” category. Some of these responses also touch on the cost of living.

One comment under public sector reform was posted repeatedly by several respondents. It read:

“Memohon dan merayu kepada kerajaan baharu supaya Elaun Rumah dan Elaun Sara Hidup (C.O.L.A) penjawat awam TIDAK dipotong untuk masuk tinggal di kuarters kuarters kerajaan.”

(Begging the new government not to cut the housing and cost of living allowances for civil servants living in government quarters.)

All the respondents identified themselves only by their first names, like Rohana, Ahmad, Amin, Razak, Haikal, Siti Haliza and others.

Better pay, perks, promotions

One respondent, Rizal, asked for a 40% annual pay increase for civil servants because prices and the cost of living in the city and rural areas are up.

M. Kadir Ali told the government not to put down the morale of civil servants who had also contributed to the PH victory in the May 9 polls.

“Don’t deny us our rights to the facilities provided for civil servants,” he said, without elaborating.

Norzaime suggested that the government lower the Public Sector Home Financing Board (LPPSA) interest rate from 4% to 2% for all applicants to motivate civil servants and as a gesture of appreciation for their service.

“The Johor government even offers 0%,” the respondent cited an example.

Norzaime also asked the government to increase the paid maternity leave period for civil servants from 360 days to 450 days and to cut cost by reducing the number of drivers.

“In the private sector, executives to vice-presidents drive the company cars themselves. They don’t hire drivers. The government should apply this in the public sector to cut cost.”

Another respondent only known as Wan also has a list of suggestions on promotions and salaries in the public sector.

Wan wants Putrajaya to pay government staff with science, technology and engineering qualifications better than those from the arts stream and pay full salaries to government support staff pursuing their master’s or doctorates.

There should be automatic promotions for support staff with first-class honours in their first degrees, because academically excellent staff can contribute ideas and expertise to the organisation and national development, Wan said.

“Look at developed countries that could grow rapidly even with small populations like Australia. A highly educated workforce is a factor.

“The time has come for the government to recognise lower-level staff with first class honours. Right now, they can’t even get their ideas across to their higher-ups just because of their low-level positions.

“It is a loss to the civil service when these people are willing to serve but are unable to play their roles professionally.”

Wan added that recognising the available talent within the civil service, whose numbers are not many, would not cost the government much financially.

“I hope the government considers this. It is also in line with the Industrial Revolution 4.0, and efforts to prevent brain drain. These are intelligent people, so let’s not deny their contributions to the country.”

Nadyr said public servants should be given the option to choose between getting a pension or making contributions to the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF).

More aid

Meanwhile, in other categories, many respondents asked the government for more welfare aid for special groups, like the elderly and the disabled.

“Have more incentives or grants for senior citizens’ medical fees and/or insurance to help cope with their retirement plans and lessen their burden,” said Melissa P.

Under the rakyat welfare and wellbeing category, Gooi and Khairol Asuan Md Khalid asked the government to increase the monthly subsidies to the disabled (OKU) and food allowance for disabled students.

“The RM150 per month has been maintained for at least 7 years since day one (when) my child was in standard one. It was insufficient to cover the monthly expenses of a child, especially OKU children who need more attention and medication.

“In January each year, the school fees are also more than RM150. OKU persons also need fair attention from the government although they have no voting power,” Gooi said.

Khairol said households with disabled children or those suffering from chronic illnesses should be given monthly aid.

“The government can think about collaborating with insurance companies to provide this aid,” he said.

Zuraidah Mohamed wants the government to give schooling aid to families earning under RM4,000 because many households have several schooling children and were considered urban poor.

She also wants the government to get schools to do away with parent and teacher association (PTA) fees, and retain the milk programme.

Hana, however, thinks the government needed to stop giving cash aid to the people, which only burdened the administration’s finances and created a dependency mentality.

“Don’t just keep depending on the government. Better to give (the people) fishing rods instead of fish.”

Tan said the government should stop subsidising healthcare for patients who still smoke, drink alcohol and make no lifestyle modifications despite their diseases.

The Budget 2019 feedback runs until September 30. – September 11, 2018.