PEKAN: Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar said the government needs to monitor the implementation of the Public Service Remuneration Scheme (SSPA) before reassessing the retirement age for civil servants.
"For now, we are observing first. We have not considered any proposals related to the retirement age.
"The focus is currently more on the SSPA, and last week, civil servants received their long-awaited salary increase, which will hopefully ease their burden.
"I have seen on social media that civil servants are very happy about their salary increment, which they have been waiting for a long time, and it will help lighten their financial load," he said during the Madani Community Outreach Programme at Kampung Tanjung Batu, Nenasi, here today.
Present were Pahang State Development director Datuk Fadzillah Salleh and Pekan district officer Datuk Zaliza Zulkipli.
During the programme, 51 underprivileged individuals received daily essentials worth RM38,000 under the Pahang State Development fund, which also allocated resources for four facilities in Kampung Tanjung Batu.
Shamsul reminded civil servants who received their new salary to spend it wisely, especially in preparing school supplies for their children for the coming semester.
Yesterday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced that the government had agreed to continue providing the Special Recognition for Retirees (PKKP) aid to retirees and derivative pension recipients.
He said this was to ensure that they received a higher pension rate to safeguard their well-being in face of the current high cost of living.
The PKKP means that the two per cent annual pension increments enjoyed by retirees would be maintained in the form of special aid.
He also stated that the Public Service Remuneration System (SSPA), effective Dec 1, included the adjustment of pensions for retirees and derivative pension recipients.
On Aug 16, he announced that civil servants in the implementing and professional group would receive a 15 per cent salary increment effective Dec 1.
Anwar, who is also the finance minister, said civil servants in top management and professional roles would see a pay increase of seven per cent.
The increment, he said, would be implemented in two phases: the first phase in December this year and the second phase in January 2026.
He said retirees and derivative pension recipients would receive pension adjustments with the same percentage increments as active civil servants, to be implemented in the two phases.