High starting salary for civil servants with PHD, Master's Degree

The government would set a high starting salary for civil servants with a doctor of philosophy (PhD) and master's degree in 33 service schemes.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said those slated in the schemes include university lecturers, information technology officers, research officers, accountants, senior police officers and administrative and diplomatic officers.

For serving officers who were still on their appointment grade after obtaining higher qualification, the government would also upgrade their basic salary.

"Such scheme is for medical officers, dental officers and education officers with post graduate diploma," he said in a written reply to Senator Baharudin Abu Bakar at the Dewan Negara, Monday.

His reply was delivered by Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Razali Ibrahim.

Baharudin had asked about the government's special incentives for civil servants who possessed a PhD in fields critical to national development.

Najib also said the Promotion Board would evaluate qualified officers based on the merit system.

"Officers with a PhD have an edge in the promotion process. For example, graduate education officers in the Education Ministry are promoted through the Excellence evaluating system which takes into account academic qualification including PhD and experience," he said.