PUTRAJAYA: The government is expected to finalise the pension percentages for retirees soon following the new remuneration scheme for civil servants.
Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar said the government is still reviewing the rates for retirees, and the matter will be presented during the upcoming cabinet meeting on Friday.
"We are currently refining it. If not next week, then the (cabinet meeting of the) following week.
"We will finalise it based on the cabinet's decision," he told reporters after attending the 9th Koprojaya Annual General Meeting today.
When asked about the potential rates, Shamsul Azri replied, "I cannot divulge that. Please wait."
Asked if there would be positive news for pensioners, he replied: "Positive... the government always cares for retired civil servants."
It was reported that the pensioners are still waiting if their pensions will be revised in accordance with the new government's pay scale under the Public Service Remuneration System (SSPA), following the recent salary adjustments.
On Oct 31, Public Service Department director-general Tan Sri Wan Ahmad Dahlan Abdul Aziz said government retirees will benefit from the SSPA as their pensions will also be adjusted.
This adjustment, he said, would increase the pension percentages for retirees with government approval, allowing them to enjoy increments similar to those received by current public servants.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, when addressing the civil servants at the 19th edition of Majlis Amanat Perdana Perkhidmatan Awam (MPPA XIX) 2024 programme in August this year, announced a 15 per cent salary adjustment for civil servants in the implementing and professional group, and seven per cent for those in top management and professional roles.
He said the salary adjustment will be implemented in phases, starting from Dec 1, 2024, for Phase 1, and from Jan 1, 2026, for Phase 2, following the challenging economic situation in the country.
He said for those under the implementation group, the salary adjustment will start at eight per cent in Phase 1 and seven per cent in Phase 2.
For the top management group, the salary adjustment will be four per cent in Phase 1 and three per cent in Phase 2.
Meanwhile, asked if the government may offer a second chance to those who did not sign the SSPA previously, possibly reopening the offer made earlier, Shamsul Azri said; "For now, we are focusing on those who have already signed.
"We will consider any possible outcomes later. But for now, we settle the first phase of this SSPA implementation first."
On Dec 8, it was reported that only 0.13 per cent of 1.5 million civil servants opted out of the SSPA by the Nov 30 deadline.
He said the figure was minimal, with 1,400 civil servants choosing not to adopt the SSPA.