Pensioners seek rise in payment in meeting with Najib

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Government Pensioners Foundation held a meeting with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak in Putrajaya on Friday to discuss the direction of the foundation and the role pensioners can play in helping the government.

Its chairman, Tan Sri Aseh Che Mat, said the meeting also touched on the role of pensioners in the 2050 National Transformation programme (TN50).

“We told the prime minister that we support TN50 and (we) have formed a special committee headed by (former economic planning unit director-general) Tan Sri Sulaiman Mahbub,” he said.

Foundation members at the meeting included Admiral (Rtd) Tan Sri Mohd Anwar Mohd Nor, former inspector-general of police Tan Sri Ismail Omar, former Universiti Teknologi Mara vicechancellor Tan Sri Ibrahim Abu Shah and former education director-general Tan Sri Alimuddin Mohd Dom.

Also present were Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Services (Cuepacs) former president Datuk Omar Osman and former entrepreneur and cooperative development ministry secretary-general Datuk Musa Mohamad.

The foundation asked that the government consider an increase in pension payments to retirees.

Aseh said Najib had promised to review the matter, but his decision would depend on the capability of the government to do so.

The members also discussed the inaugural Pensioners Day on July 19.

“The prime minister expressed his readiness to be with us during the assemblies, which will be held in the north, south, west coast, east coast, as well as in Sabah and Sarawak,” said Aseh.

There are 750,000 former civil servants who receive pension from the government.

The foundation is also patron to several pension societies nationwide.