GOVERNMENT MULLS RAYA AID FOR CIVIL SERVANTS

PUTRAJAYA: The Finance Ministry will propose to the Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad for financial assistance for civil servants in conjunction with the upcoming Hari Raya Aidilfitri, said Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng.

He said the proposal would be made to help low-ranking civil servants prepare for the festivities.

“For this Hari Raya, some have asked (about the assistance), but I hope you all (civil servants) are considerate as the nation’s economy is not that good,” he said when addressing the staff at the ministry’s monthly gathering for the first time yesterday.

Lim also said the assistance would specifically be for the lowgrade category, and the amount of assistance would be announced later by Dr Mahathir.

“We try to portray a leadership by example. We don’t cut civil servants’ salaries.

“In fact, the cabinet ministers’ pay is cut by 10 per cent... this was agreed to during Pakatan Harapan’s first cabinet meeting.

“The message we want to convey is that Malaysia’s economy is faced with issues due to leakages and misappropriation of funds that happened previously.”

On the ministry’s role, Lim stressed that the government was facing fiscal and national debt issues, where the country’s financial status was not as disclosed to the people.

“However, (we must) uphold promises even though (we) encountered a fiscal position (issue),” he said, adding that he would consolidate the country’s financial report and system in the first week of his appointment as the finance minister.

“We have also asked renowned accountancy firm, such as PricewaterhouseCoopers, to help us to smoothen the process further.”

This is important in balancing the country’s fiscal position.

Lim also hoped Malaysia would become a country that adopted entrepreneurial aspects while caring for the welfare of the people.

“Entrepreneurial (spirit) and welfare can go together and Penang is an example where this can be implemented,” he said.