ADJUSTMENTS: IMPROVED SSM REPLACES SBPA

The News Straits Time
9/3/2012

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak with Cuepacs president Datuk Omar Osman at the gathering of about 10,000 civil servants in Putrajaya yesterday. Pic by Fariz Iswadi Ismail

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THE 1.4 million civil servants will enjoy a pay rise of up to 13 per cent under an improved version of the Malaysian Remuneration Scheme (SSM).

The improved SSM will replace the scrapped Public Service New Remuneration Scheme (SBPA), which came into effect on Jan 1. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said the salary adjustments were in line with the government’s commitment, as contained in the 2012 Budget.

Apart from the 13 per cent increment for those in the management, professional and executive (pelaksana) groups between Grades 1 and 54, the revised SSM will also see a nine per cent rise for Jusa and special grade officers (A,B and C). There is an eight per cent increment for Tier II and Tier III officers and a seven per cent increase for Tier I officers and the chief secretary to the government.

Najib said the annual salary increment structure would be revised from the matrix-salary schedule to minimum-maximum-salary schedule, with a yearly increment of between RM80 and RM320 for Grades 1 to 54, depending on their grades.

The annual increment for the Jusa level and above remains.

The government, Najib said, also agreed to increase the monthly Cost of Living Allowance by RM50.

Najib said the critical service incentive payments, regional incentive payments, rural incentive payments and subject education incentive payments would be retained and implemented based on regulations in SSM.

"Teachers, do not be saddened. The government is committed to your welfare and knows your concerns, which is why I am happy to announce that we will retain the career advancement scheme based on the time-based principle, as announced in the 2012 Budget," he said at a special gathering with about 10,000 civil servants at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre yesterday.

"I hope this decision will ease dissatisfaction in the civil service."

Present were Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan and Cuepacs president Datuk Omar Osman.

Najib also announced the setting up of a commission to "comprehensively and holistically" review the civil service, be it the retirement scheme or other types of improvements.

Earlier in his speech, the prime minister said the SBPA review was done as the government was a responsible and concerned one.

"I have always said that the era where the government knows all has ended."

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin brushed aside claims that the SBPA was scrapped because of the coming general election.

"Everyone can speculate about the date of the election, but whether it is around the corner, or two or three corners, I do not know," he said.

Muhyiddin, who is also education minister, said there was "nothing wrong" in the government scrapping the SBPA and improving on the SSM.