Cuepacs forms panel to recommend SBPA changes

By MARTIN CARVALHO
mart3@thestar.com.my



KUALA LUMPUR: Cuepacs has formed its own committee to recommend changes to the new Public Service New Remuneration Scheme (SBPA), said its president Datuk Omar Osman.

Omar said the 15-member committee, headed by Cuepacs deputy president Azih Muda, would hold its first meeting on Feb 10 and come out with recommendations within three weeks.

“The committee will come out with a comprehensive working paper spelling out the recommendations.

“It will be handed over to the Prime Minister latest by mid-March,” he told reporters after chairing a two-day workshop attended by senior national and state Cuepacs officials here yesterday.

Besides maintaining its five-point demands, he said their recommendations would also cover issues such as rescinding the re-designation of portfolios under the SBPA.

Among the proposed recommendations was a review of the salary review of those in Grade 54 and below, a salary increment mechanism for those who have reached their maximum pay under their grade, maintaining of seniority within the ranks, a general review of the grade structures and salary increase of between 7% and 13%.

“The Prime Minister's hope is for the new remuneration scheme to narrow the rank and salary gap between civil servants compared to the previous salary scheme.

“However, it seems that those drafting the SBPA have done so haphazardly without proper consultation,” he added.

He said a large number of civil servants were unhappy over the SBPA, and Cuepacs would go on a nationwide road show to explain details of the scheme and its recommendations to members.

On a separate issue, Omar said Cuepacs would formally request Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan to appoint Azih, secretary-general Loke Yim Pheng and financial secretary Jaapar Mansor to the special task force set up by the Government to conduct a review of SBPA.

“If they are not appointed, I will attend the task force meeting on Feb 8 and officially declare that I am withdrawing from it,” he said.

On Monday, task force committee chairman Tan Sri Ismail Adam said he had no objections over the appointment of the three, adding that it was up to Mohd Sidek to decide.

The special task force committee, comprising senior PSD officials, representatives of the Attorney-General's Chambers and the Finance Ministry, was set up to gather feedback from civil servants on the SBPA.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak ordered a review of the scheme, which will affect 1.3 million civil servants.

The committee first met on Jan 25 and is expected to complete its task within three months.