Civil servants' salaries: Prioritise low-grade workers - Lee Lam Thye

SHAH ALAM - The government is urged to review the salary scheme for low-grade public servants first, as it is more important and feasible to accommodate in the current economic situation.

Social activist Tan Seri Lee Lam Thye said that the income earned by low-grade officers forces them to take on additional jobs.

"In my opinion, a salary increase is necessary, but not across the board.

"The focus of salary increments should be given priority to those in lower grades with low salaries.

"When the salary is low, they are forced to take on two or three additional jobs apart from their main job, and this leads to less commitment towards their permanent job," he said in a statement on Saturday.

On July 7, Sinar Harian reported that the government will review the salary scheme for public servants nationwide, with discussions to be brought up in the Cabinet meeting next week, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Elaborating further, Lee explained that it is undeniable that the salary scheme for civil servants should be revisited every five years.

He stated that the increased cost of living nowadays has necessitated salary increments among the community to ensure that the cost of living matches the level of qualifying wages.

However, Lam Thye said that the review of the salary increment requires a higher level of commitment among government employees.

"Usually, salary increments come with increased tasks and responsibilities, and does it promise a higher commitment from public servants? "Public servants need to promise better productivity and services to the people.

"This is the expectation of all citizens in the country when public servants are given a deserving salary increase," he said.

Furthermore, the increase is also expected to prevent integrity issues among employees who are exposed to such practises, added Lam Thye.

He stated that if the increase in income cannot curb the deterioration of integrity among public servants, then the salary increase would be in vain.