CONGRESS of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Services (Cuepacs) today reiterated its call for civil servants’ minimum salary to be increased from RM1,200 to RM1,800. 

Its president Adnan Mat said the move was in line with the 12th Malaysia Plan to achieve a high-income nation by 2025. 

The minimum monthly salary was last increased in 2016. 

“Now, in 2023, it is still RM1,200, and if added with the other allowances such as cost of living, housing allowances, and fixed remuneration according to their respective grades, the civil servants earn only RM1,900, which is far from the target by 2025. 

“Hence, we propose for the minimum monthly salary of civil servants to be raised to RM1,800 to enable them to bear the rising cost of goods and live more comfortably. 

“However, if the government faces constraints, the salary can be raised to RM1,500 as the government has agreed to increase the minimum wage to RM1,500 for the private sector,” he said.  

On May 1, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said it was time to evaluate and review the salary of civil servants, especially those in the lower grades. 

A civil servant, Muhammad Shafiq, 36, said the RM1,200 monthly salary was inadequate and a salary increase would be timely due to a rise in the cost of living. 

“The government can also look at increasing the existing allowance if they do not want to increase the basic salary. For those who are single, it is enough. For those who are married, we are affected. 

“Some civil servants do two or three part-time jobs to cover their daily expenses and necessities,” he added. 

Eliani Ismail, 37, a civil servant from the middle-income (M40) group said the government must look after the needs of groups affected by the current economic situation. 

“For example, we are not eligible to apply for KEMAS kindergarten while private nurseries are expensive. Perhaps the government can create special targeted assistance for M40 as it does for the B40,” she added. – Bernama, May 6, 2023.