Driven by the aspirations of Keluarga Malaysia, Prime Minister Dato' Sri Ismail Sabri bin Yaakob is putting a special attention to the welfare of civil servants in the B40 and M40 groups.
Starting next year, 1.3 million civil servants will each receive a special financial aid of RM700, according to Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz. The aid will benefit civil servants of Grade 56 and below.
“In addition, a total of 1 million retired civil servants will receive a special financial assistance of RM350 each, which involves an allocation of RM1.3 billion,” he announced this during the tabling of Budget 2023.
"In my opinion, the financial assistance comes at the right time in the middle of rising prices, as this can help many retired civil servants cope with their daily expenses. Furthermore, the amount is the highest since 2019," said Haris bin Hj Baba, a retired teacher of the DG 38 grade.
At the same time, in order to reduce the burden on civil servants to buy computers and smartphones, the government will reduce the financing rate from the current 4% to 2% per year; and for civil servants who have served in the education sector for more than 10 years, the government will increase their annual leave to 15 days per year.
According to primary school teacher Chia Lee Taw who has served for 12 years at SJKC Sin Ming, Puchong, the government's initiative to increase annual leave for teachers is a welcoming measure, considering it is still difficult for most teachers to apply for emergency leave, and the current 10 days of annual leave is just not enough.
In appreciation of the service and dedication given by civil servants, the Prime Minister has also decided to increase the Special Financial Aid for Hari Raya 2023 to RM600, which will be given out starting March next year.
Together with the 2023 Special Additional Salary Increase of RM100 effective January 2023 and the Special Financial Assistance of RM700, plus other benefits, the government will provide eligible civil servants with different financial aids worth up to RM2,500 per person.
In total, the 7 special government initiatives for civil servants are as follows:
Special Financial Assistance of RM700 for civil service members of Grade 56 and below.
Special Financial Assistance of RM350 for retired civil servants and non-pensionable veterans (starting January 2023).
A Special Additional Annual Salary Increase of RM100 for civil servants from Grade 11 to Grade 56 (starting January 2023).
An increase in the maximum number of accumulated leave that can be converted to cash incentives (leave replacement) from 160 to 180 days.
An increase in the Special Leave to 15 days per year for civil servants who have served in the education sector for more than 10 years.
Expand the definition of "family members" to make it easier for the concerned civil servants to attend to funeral matters of their relatives by means of "leave without record".
Improvement and adjustment to the annual salary of civil servants who have reached the maximum pay rates.
