Decision on civil servant remuneration scheme will also apply to politicians - PM

He said he had agreed in principle to the proposal.

However, he said the matter will only be finalised by the Cabinet after looking into the feedback from various parties and the findings of the in-depth studies involving various aspects of the Federal Constitution.

"Whatever decision made for the civil servants will also apply to politicians.

"If, on Feb 1, 2024, we were to start the non-pensionable appointment for civil servants, then, the same goes to all political appointees," he told reporters before taking a lunch break at Restoran Nasi Kandar Pelita here today.

Yesterday, the Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Services (Cuepacs) urged the government to review the pension provision for politicians, particularly elected representatives, if the country faces financial constraints that necessitate limiting the civil service pensions.

Its president, Datuk Adnan Mat said, the government should consider abolishing the pensions for those politicians first as most of them only serve for about five years compared to civil servants who, on average, serve more than 30 years.

Meanwhile, Anwar said any government would realise that economic growth cannot be sustained if nothing is done about the pension scheme.

"So, let's listen to the proposal first, debate and scrutinise it, and give the necessary feedback and recommendations on what the government should do, and then we will finalise it," he said.

Anwar said a lot of confusion has arisen over this issue and hence, a follow-up statement will be issued by the Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan.

Last Tuesday, the Public Service Department (PSD) in a circular dated Jan 15 stated the government has decided that a new method for the permanent appointment of civil servants should be introduced to strengthen the public service remuneration system.

PSD director-general Datuk Seri Wan Ahmad Dahlan Abdul Aziz said that the Cabinet had also agreed that the recruitment of new civil servants will be done on a contract basis, starting this year, as an interim towards the implementation of a new method for the permanent appointment of public officers, which will involve amendments to relevant acts.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi was also reported as saying that the recruitment of new civil servants on a contract basis is only done for a short period before the Cabinet approves the new policy of non-pensionable permanent employment.

-- BERNAMA