No downsizing
IPOH: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak yesterday said there are no plans to downsize the civil service. nstead, t here will be more promotions and the number of employees increased, with more incentives given.
“Special payments, houses and flexible working hours for pregnant women are among the incentives to be introduced.
“They are the backbone of the government. When the economy is doing well, I want civil servants to enjoy a better quality of life and more benefits will be channeled to them.
“If we are going to cut down the number, then half of you will have to stop working,” he told some 5,000 Perak civil servants at a Budget talk for government staff yesterday.
Also present were Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Zambry Abd Kadir and Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin and International Trade and Industry Minister II Datuk Seri Ong Ka Chuan.
Najib was commenting on statements by several opposition leaders who implied that the number of civil servants should be reduced to 430,000 from the current 1.62 million.
“They are not bothered about t he c i vi l s e r vants, who a r e responsible for formulating and executing policies.
“It is impossible for us to enjoy success and growth and achieve an advanced economy without the support and contributions of public servants.”
Najib said t he Perumahan P e n j a wat Awam 1 Malays i a programme is another incentive for government staff to own properties and not only draw pensions after their retirement.
“Various international agencies have given a positive outlook of the country’s growth, against comments that the country is heading towards bankruptcy.
“The country is looking at a growing economy from the current RM1.3 trillion to RM2 trillion by 2025, or even earlier, maybe by 2022,” he added.
At another event later in KUALA LUMPUR, Najib announced a RM2,000 special cash incentive for Permodalan Nasional Berhad (PNB) staff.
Najib, who i s also f i nance minister, said the incentive was to celebrate the i n v e s t me n t organisation’s 40th anniversary, as well as i t s s t r ong economic performance throughout the years.