PUTRAJAYA: Civil servants who pursue further studies at their own expense will receive financial incentives, said Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The Prime Minister said the incentives, aimed at officers in the Management and Professional Group as well as the Support Group, would benefit more than 91,000 civil servants.
Those pursuing doctorate degrees will receive RM1,250, followed by RM1,000 for master’s degrees, RM750 for bachelor’s degrees and RM500 for diploma or equivalent qualifications.
Known as the Hadiah Pengiktirafan Akademik (HPA), Anwar said the financial incentive is provided to civil servants who begin and complete higher academic qualifications recognised during their service, using their own funds.
“Those who take the initiative to study on their own, we are giving them a small token of appreciation, with the total budget involving RM75.7mil.
“This will benefit 91,672 civil servants. It is given once in their career, showing that we encourage them to improve their capabilities on their own initiative,” he said when delivering his address at the 20th Majlis Amanat Perdana Perkhidmatan Awam here on Friday (Aug 15).
Also present were Deputy Prime Ministers Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar, and Public Service Department director-general Tan Sri Wan Ahmad Dahlan Abdul Aziz.
Wan Ahmad Dahlan commended the initiative, saying that while government scholarships such as the Federal Training Award were available, the number of available spots was limited.
"Some pay for their own Diploma, Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree or PhD. Now, those eligible will receive this one-off payment, and we will begin processing it soon," he told reporters when met later at the event.
