FULL BENEFITS, PENSION

CIVIL servants suffering from chronic diseases can opt for early retirement under a new scheme to be tabled next month in Parliament and expected to be implemented in April.

AFTER SERVING FOR MORE THAN 12 YEARS, A PERSON MAY GET A MONTHLY PENSION OF ALMOST THREE TIMES MORE THAN UNDER THE EXISTING SCHEME

CIVIL servants suffering from chronic diseases and those deemed unfit for work can soon opt for early retirement through the “Atas Sebab Kesihatan” (ASK) or ill-health retirement scheme, which offers better retirement benefits.

The scheme will benefit a section of the nation’s 1.6 million civil servants.

Public Service Department director-general Tan Sri Zainal Rahim Seman said the ASK scheme had received the green light from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

It will be tabled in Parliament next month and is expected to be enforced in April.

He said that under the scheme, those who retire early due to health issues would receive better benefits and monthly pension, the same as if they have served the government until the retirement age of 60.

“Through this new policy, civil servants can choose to retire early due to their health condition.

“This is only applicable for those who are seriously ill and incapable of carrying out their duties, which must be verified and supported by a qualified doctor, covering illnesses such as stroke, psychological diseases, physical effects after accidents, or other chronic diseases.

“If we let these civil servants continue to work, we fear that this will lead to their health deteriorating and affect their productivity.

“Such staff would also feel as if they had not done their best to contribute to the public sector,” he said at a press conference at his office here yesterday.

In the 2018 Budget tabling, Najib had announced several benefits for public servants and pensioners, which include retirement benefits for those who retired due to medical reasons.

Zainal said the scheme displayed the government’s commitment in improving the wellbeing of public servants and concern about their welfare.

Zainal said every year, about 200 to 220 civil servants had health issues that prevented them from discharging their duties effectively.

Zainal said those retiring under the ASK scheme would be paid based on the stipulated formula set by the department.

He gave an example of a civil servant who began serving the government in April 2005 and had to retire due to ill-health.

“He is actually due for retirement in 2046, but due to poor health, had to retire well before. This means he has only served 12 years and 23 days. Under the scheme, he would receive a benefit of RM70,000 with a monthly pension of RM1,200.

“Under the present system, the person would only receive a payout of RM21,600 with a monthly pension of RM479.99.

“Through this scheme, the monthly pension is three times more than the present one.”

He said there were many cases of civil servants being ill but were reluctant to retire early due to numerous reasons, such as financial obligations and responsibilities to their family.

“Some of these civil servants had only worked for 10 to 15 years and were afraid that if they retired early, they would be left with low pensions.

“Given that they still need to support their school-going children, they were left with little choice but to continue working despite their poor health.

“There are even employees who come in to work in wheelchairs due to the severity of their medical conditions. We sympathise with them and as such, decided to draft new procedures to provide an option for early retirement, without placing a financial burden on them.”

If we let these civil servants continue to work, we fear that this will lead to their health deteriorating... TAN SRI ZAINAL RAHIM SEMAN Public Service Department director-general