On the ground: Shamsul Azri delivering his keynote address at the Malaysia Madani national seminar in Putrajaya. — Bernama
PUTRAJAYA: With less than a week left to implementation, about 85% of the 1.4 million civil servants have signed up for the new civil service salary rules or the Public Service Remuneration System (SSPA) option, says Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar.
The Chief Secretary to the Government said the Public Service Department (JPA) has held explanation sessions on the new system to get the remaining 15% on board.
“In terms of percentage, 85% have agreed to sign the SSPA. As for the remaining (15%), I was made to understand that JPA will go all-out to provide clarification as some are still unclear about the system due to inaccurate information they have seen on social media,” he said in his keynote address at the Malaysia Madani national seminar yesterday.
Shamsul Azri advised civil servants who are still unclear about the benefits of the SSPA to refer to the JPA for clarification as the department is the “authentic source of reference”.
“Don’t listen to what your friends on social media say. Sometimes, these friends are not government servants, so how can they understand and give advice on the SSPA?” he added.
On Nov 12, a one-stop call centre for the SSPA was established to provide clear and accurate explanations, and avoid confusion among civil servants regarding the new remuneration system.On Sept 13, Public Service director-general Tan Sri Wan Ahmad Dahlan Abdul Aziz announced that civil servants have 40 days between Oct 21 and Nov 30 to sign up for the SSPA or remain under the Malaysian Remuneration System (SSM) before the new system takes effect on Dec 1.
Permanent and pensionable civil servants who opt for the SSPA will not only have a permanent and unaffected pension but also receive a salary adjustment.
Officers with contract status (contract of service) are also eligible to receive salary adjustments under SSPA.
The SSPA is part of the government’s efforts to ensure the well-being and job satisfaction of all civil servants regardless of employment status.
