Still no relief for group of unfortunate pensioners

AS promised by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, Budget 2018 does indeed provide goodies for all sections of our Malaysian society – except the group of government retirees with less than 25 years of service.

I am a retired government employee drawing a sufficient amount in pension but it pains me to note that retirees with less than 25 years’ service will continue to receive very low monthly pensions.

Since 2011, I have been writing to the Prime Minister and newspapers about this matter and I was hoping Budget 2018 would promise something positive. But my hopes were dashed.

Still, I hope this matter might still catch the attention of our PM, who might then consider a minimum monthly pension of RM500 for this unfortunate group. The poverty rate is RM720.

The group is in this unfortunate situation due to a number of reasons, including leaving the service earlier due to unforeseen circumstances or being absorbed late into the government’s permanent service.

When our PM launched the Government Pensioners’ Foundation in April 2015, he called on pensioners to come to him if they needed help, “Come to me if you need help, Najib tells pensioners” ( The Star, April 14, 2015).

I hope he will answer the “call for help” from this group of retired pensioners. CONCERNED RETIREE Kamunting