My Longkang

DPM, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak is quoted to have said that the government has yet to decide on Cuepacs request for a pay rise for civil servants. After all the hype in the press by Cuepacs of possible good news to be announced on Labour Day and then the end of this month, the civil servants must be feeling frustrated.

He said, “We’ll have to wait for the government’s decision. The government’s sympathetic to the plight of civil servants. Whatever it is, we’ll have to take into account the government’s capability and productivity of the civil service”. In my opinion this is double-speak carrying a vague meaning hoping to offend nobody.

The last salary revision was about 15 years ago. In the interim, there has been some salary adjustments.

The public sector has no choice but to await for an announcement from the Prime Minister. Inwardly, the civil servants must be seething with frustration. As it is, almost all sectors of the public sectors have been the first to tighten their belts, work harder to increase their productivity amidst increased paper-work and documentation which has nothing to do with productivity but makes their respective departments look good on paper.

A strike or industrial action is not on the cards. On the other hand, the government must consider the needs of the civil servants to exist with dignity in our nation. It is an open secret a big percentage of civil servants are resorting to double/triple jobs just to make ends meet.

Mr Prime Minister. The ball is in your court now. It is your call. Remember the back-bone of the government is the civil service. Appreciate all the toil and labour of this group through the years. Please do not take them for granted.

Public Services department (PSD) director-general Tan Sri Ismail Adam who is supposed to be in the know has said that the 10% increase was mere speculation and for public servants to stop the speculation. This is a funny reminder if the matter is not so serious. How does one stop a camel from rushing to the water-hole when it is thirsty after a long trek across the desert? They are speculating about a bread and butter issue for them and not perks like membership in sports clubs or other luxuries.

Cuepacs has indicated it will not accept a 10% salary adjustment. Mylongkang fully supports Cuepacs stand. The civil service expects a salary revision and not a salary adjustment.