Civil servants will receive a special financial assistance of RM500 ahead of the Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebration next month, Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak said.

Najib, who is also the finance minister, said that pensioners will also be given a special payment of RM250.

Sukacita saya umum Bantuan Khas Kewangan sebanyak RM500 utk penjawat awam & RM250 utk pesara kerajaan sbg persiapan untuk mnyambut Hari Raya

— Mohd Najib Tun Razak (@NajibRazak) June 2, 2017

Meanwhile, the Finance Ministry, in a separate statement, said the special aid is expected to benefit 1.6 million civil servants and 775,000 pensioners.

"The government hopes that the distribution of this special aid can help ease the financial burden of civil servants and pensioners in preparation of Hari Raya Aidilfitri 2017," the ministry said.

The ministry added that disbursement of the payment, which is expected to cost the government RM1 billion, will be made before June 9.

Since Budget 2011, Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak has announced bonus or special assistance to civil servants in two portions - one during the budget speech and another close to Hari Raya.

The Hari Raya assistance of RM500, combined with a RM500 one-off payment to civil servants announced during the Budget 2017 speech, brings the total payment for this year to RM1,000.

The amount is identical to the total payout in 2016.

Between 2013 and 2015, civil servants received a half-month bonus under the budget speech and RM500 as Hari Raya aid.

As for 2011 and 2012, they received a half-month bonus under the budget speech and another half-month bonus for Hari Raya.