Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has announced on April 1st that a cash aid of RM500 will be paid out to all civil servants Grade 56 and below, including contractual workers. This sum is being given out in conjunction with the upcoming Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebrations.
Additionally, a payment of RM250 will also be made to all retired civil servants and veterans. This comes after a prior announcement that the government does not have plans to offer a Hari Raya bonus to civil servants this year.
The payments to both civil servants and retirees is scheduled for this Friday, 5th April 2024. This process is to be handled by the Treasury Department.
Cuepacs, which is the civil service workers' union in Malaysia, has registered their thanks to the PM. According to Cuepacs president Datuk Dr Adnan Mat, this demonstrates the willingness of the PM to listen to feedback.
The government had previously announced that no bonuses or cash aids would be given out for Hari Raya since an early incentive payment was already made on February 28th.
The earlier payout of RM2,000 was made to all civil servants grade 56 and below, including contract workers. Those in the Jawatan Utama Sektor Awam received RM1,000 as well.
As part of the government's cost cutting measures, the PM also announced that there would be no Hari Raya open house in Seri Perdana this year. This decision was made as a cost-cutting measure.
At the same speech on April 2nd, PM Anwar Ibrahim also reminded government agencies not to go overboard on their celebrations.
“If we save money, we can channel it to benefit others. That is why I have decided that this year, I will not host a big event. It is enough for me just to attend the programmes by the ministries, so it won’t add to the government’s spending like hosting a massive open house at Seri Perdana,” he said.
Source: Malaysiakini