ABOUT 1,000 contract workers at the Inland Revenue Board (IRB) are planning to appeal to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim for an extension of their contracts, which are set to end next week.

These are officers involved in daily operations such as auditing, tax collection and law enforcement.

Former Terengganu PKR chief Azan Ismail was reported as saying in Malaysiakini today that a group representing 967 IRB officers will submit a letter to Anwar soon.

“There are concerns over the impact of a sudden job loss if no urgent consideration is made to extend their contracts,” Azan was quoted as telling the news portal.

“This appeal to the prime minister is critical so they can receive the needed extension.”

He also said these officers were “actually carrying out duties of permanent staff”.

“But yet they are retained on contract,” he said.

Azan said the government can use the targeted tax revenues of up to RM140 billion this year to fund the extension as the current average salary of the officers are about RM2,000 per month.

He said the officers are seeking urgent confirmation of an extension of their contracts.

They eventually want to be made permanent staff in the civil service.

The portal also reported that officers whose contracts are ending at the end of the year have been a contract staff for one year, or some with 10 years of service. – December 25, 2022.