Decision on civil servant remuneration scheme will also apply to politicians - Anwar

KUALA LUMPUR - Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today said that any decision made following the review of the public service remuneration scheme will also apply to politicians and political appointees in the country.

He said he had agreed in principle to the proposal.

However, he said the matter will only be finalised by the Cabinet after looking into the feedback from various parties and the findings of the in-depth studies involving various aspects of the Federal Constitution.

"Whatever decision made for the civil servants will also apply to politicians.

"If, on Feb 1, 2024, we were to start the non-pensionable appointment for civil servants, then, the same goes to all political appointees,” he told reporters before taking a lunch break at Restoran Nasi Kandar Pelita here today.

Yesterday, the Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Services (Cuepacs) urged the government to review the pension provision for politicians, particularly elected representatives, if the country faces financial constraints that necessitate limiting the civil service pensions.

Its president, Datuk Adnan Mat said, the government should consider abolishing the pensions for those politicians first as most of them only serve for about five years compared to civil servants who, on average, serve more than 30 years.

Meanwhile, Anwar said any government would realise that economic growth cannot be sustained if nothing is done about the pension scheme.

"So, let's listen to the proposal first, debate and scrutinise it, and give the necessary feedback and recommendations on what the government should do, and then we will finalise it," he said.

Anwar said a lot of confusion has arisen over this issue and hence, a follow-up statement will be issued by the Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan. - BERNAMA