REVIEW REDUCED ALLOCATION FOR IPTAs. CUEPACS URGES GOVT

Daily Express
18/1/2016

BESUT: The Congress of Unions for Employees in the Public and Civil Service (Cuepacs) hopes the Government will review the reduced allocation for public institutions of higher learning (IPTAs).

Its President Datuk Azih Muda said the significant cut in the allocation for IPTA has led to certain constraints for IPTA staff including some having to spend their own pocket money to perform a number of office tasks.

"Since the allocation was reduced, they have to use their own money, including to pay for grass cutting, cleaning works, even bus services to transport students have to be restricted," he told reporters after the Transformation of Civil Servants with Cuepacs programme, here, Sunday.

Azih said it was also hoped that in the 2016 Budget adjustment next month, the Government would consider replenishing the provision for IPTAs through the Goods and Services Tax (GST) collection.

However, he said, Cuepacs was grateful that the Government's budget adjustment would not involve the salary cut for civil servants and hoped that it would also not affect all incentives given to the group that was agreed effective Jan 1.

"We hope that on Feb 28, the Government will take into account the GST collection to cover the shortfall in the Government's income due to the fall in global oil prices," he said.