KUALA PILAH: Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi pledges to ask Negri Sembilan’s next mentri besar to award a special bonus to all Community Development Department (Kemas) employees in the state if Barisan Nasional returns to power next week.
The Deputy Prime Minister, who is also Rural and Regional Development Minister, said the state government should emulate Johor by recognising the contributions of Kemas teachers, staff and officers despite them being federal government employees.
“If we are given the opportunity to form the new Negri Sembilan government this time, I will ask the new mentri besar to look after the welfare of Kemas teachers.
“Although they are federal government officers and staff, we want Negri Sembilan to follow Johor’s example by giving an additional bonus to Kemas teachers, staff and officers,” he said when launching Hari Kemahiran Kemas Negri Sembilan here on Saturday (July 25).
Ahmad Zahid said he would request the new mentri besar to extend the bonus to all Kemas employees across the state, describing it as recognition for their years of service.
“They have served for a long time. Their salaries are small. There is nothing wrong with giving them a bigger bonus,” he said.
At the same time, Ahmad Zahid expressed confidence that a Barisan victory in the Aug 1 polls would enable Negri Sembilan to accelerate its development.
He said the state, which borders Selangor and Melaka, should be able to match and eventually surpass its neighbours in areas such as industry, tourism, entrepreneurship and skills development.
“I hope the candidates we choose on Aug 1 will be able to help form a new state government so that Negri Sembilan can become more advanced than other states.
“If we are given the opportunity to change the state government, I believe Negri Sembilan can become one of the country’s leading states in terms of development,” he said.
Ahmad Zahid also praised Kemas for its role in early childhood education, saying the agency had become an important “feeder kindergarten” for pupils entering primary school.
He said Kemas’ efforts would become even more significant with the entry age for Year One pupils reduced from seven to six beginning next year.
