Clear facts before implementing contract-based recruitment - Analysts

SHAH ALAM - The government's decision to implement the recruitment of new civil servants on a contract basis poses a risk of diminishing public support, especially among the youth in the future, warns political analyst.

However, Professor Dr Mohd Izani Mohd Zain stressed that this risk can be mitigated if the government offers comprehensive explanations to the public, perhaps through the conduct of a town hall.

"I don't have an in-depth study, but I can say that the proposal for the non-pensionable scheme is risky.

"It is important for the people to know why this proposal needs to be implemented so that it can be accepted by all parties.

"In my opinion, the government needs to provide facts related to the financial burden it is facing at the moment before implementing it," he told Sinar.

In a related matter, political analyst Associate Professor Dr Awang Azman Awang Pawi has warned the government that incomplete explanations can lead to misunderstandings and public backlash.

"The chief secretary to the government needs to be open for questioning, and I think it depends on the explanation.

"If they provide only a quarter of the perspective, it becomes difficult for the government because it can lead to public misunderstandings.

"We need to understand that contract hiring is a temporary step before implementing a more progressive method, especially involving salaries," he said.

In the meantime, political analyst Professor Dr Ahmad Martadha Mohamed said pension schemes had become a burden to the government because the country has to bear the associated costs for a long time.

"For me, the government needs to look at the pension system as a whole.

"In our universities, we do not focus solely on the public sector because the opportunities are limited.

"We train graduates with a broader scope, such as venturing into entrepreneurship.

"In addition, the government also needs to increase job opportunities in the private sector," Martadha added.

On Wednesday, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said new civil servants would no longer receive pensions but would contribute to the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) and Social Security Organisation (Socso).

Zahid said this would alleviate the government’s financial burden by reducing pension payments, which he said would reach RM120 billion in 2040 without any change to the system.

This is set to be implemented by this year, with the public services department to announce the exact date.