S'wak announces 1.5 months' bonus for civil servants

KUCHING: The Sarawak government has announced a special incentive of one and a half month's basic salary, or a minimum RM2,000 for state civil servants.

Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said the bonus would be paid before the year end.

He also said federal civil servants in Sarawak would receive a one-off incentive of RM500 from the state government, to be paid in the first quarter of next year.

"The state government appreciates the contribution, sacrifice and commitment of state and federal civil servants in carrying out their duties and responsibilities in these challenging times.

"During the Covid-19 pandemic, members of the Sarawak and federal civil service, including doctors, nurses, health workers, uniformed bodies, immigration and other frontline personnel, have worked tirelessly to protect our rakyat.

"In doing so, they have risked their own safety and sacrificed their comfort. There are also countless other members of the civil service who are working behind the scenes, away from the glare of publicity, but working diligently in their respective workplaces.

"To all of them, I say thank you," Abang Johari said when winding up the debate on the state budget in the Sarawak Legislative Assembly on Friday (Nov 13).

The Chief Minister also said the state government would conduct a thorough feasibility study on setting up a sovereign wealth fund, which had been proposed by several assemblymen.

He said this would ensure a proper governance framework and implementation mechanism to mitigate any risks associated with operating such a fund.

"I welcome the suggestions for the state government to establish a sovereign wealth fund by investing surplus revenue as a buffer in time of financial crisis, as well as for the benefit of our current and future generations.

"Such a fund could also help the state to address the issue of volatile resource prices, unpredictability of extraction and exhaustibility of natural resources," he said.