Budget 2018: Special payment of RM1,500 for civil servants

The prime minister, who is also Finance Minister, when making the most anticipated announcement during the tabling of Budget 2018 in Parliament today, said the payment would be made twice, of which RM1,000 would be paid in early January 2018, while the balance of RM500 during Hari Raya Aidilfitri.

"This is the right time to acknowledge public servants who have been loyal and provide efficient and effective public service delivery to the rakyat," he said.

Najib also announced a special payment of RM750 to government retirees, of which RM500 to be paid in January 2018 and the balance, during Hari Raya Aidilfitri.

In the budget speech themed "Prospering An Inclusive Economy, Balancing Between Worldly and Hereafter, For The Wellbeing of Rakyat, Towards The TN50 Aspiration", Najib also announced several other good news for the civil servants which would take efffect on Jan 1 next year, including second time-based promotion to supporting staff after 13 years from the first promotion.

He said public servants who retire on medical reasons would be provided with benefit similar to those who retire at compulsory age.

Najib also announced that public servants would be allowed cash award in lieu of accumulated leave (GCR) of more than 150 days to be taken during the retirement year and that the special leaves for education officers be increased from seven to 10 days a year.

Also announced by the prime minister were unrecorded leaves of up to seven days to be provided to public servants throughout their service for the purpose of umrah and flexible working hour one day a week for Grade UD54 and above Medical Specialists who had served a minimum of four years and meet certain requirements.

He said the government would also introduce new working hours from 9am to 6pm to provide further flexibility to public servants, increase total maternity leave from 300 days to 360 days throughout service subject to a maximum of 90 days a year and allow working women in their five month onwards of pregnancy to leave work an hour earlier.

"To accompany them, husbands are also allowed leave work an hour earlier with a condition that the couple are working within the same location," he said.

Najib said the government would also encourage life-long learning among public servants through in-house Masters and PhD programmes, set minimum pension of RM1,000 per month and extend the medical facilities to parents of retirees.

"For those who are self-employed and without fixed income, the government will increase its contribution to 15 percent subject to a maximum of RM250 annually under the 1Malaysia Retirement Scheme (SP1M0 managed by the Employees Provident Fund (EPF).

"The contribution begins from 2018 to 2022," he added. -- Bernama