Anwar said the 7% to 15% hike in civil servants’ pay which he announced today was also meant to send a message to private companies to raise their workers’ wages.
“I hope the private sector will review their (salary) schemes so that the (financial) burden of the workforce can be reduced with a more reasonable remuneration and salary increment scheme, especially companies that record huge profits.
“There is no reason for a monthly salary to be less than RM2,000,” he told reporters at the 19th Civil Service Premier Assembly at Putrajaya International Convention Centre today, Bernama reported.
He said the civil servants’ salary adjustment took into account the 21.3% increase in the consumer price index over the past 10 years, especially the price of food and drinks, which increased by 24.8% over the period.
Comprehensive audit required
Separately, Anwar said the government is conducting a review of overlapping structures and functions of ministries and agencies, which is expected to be completed by next July.
He said he wants the public services department to conduct a comprehensive audit of positions to identify any imbalances in job placements that may exist across ministries and agencies.
He also called for employees with irrelevant, overlapping or isolated functions to be transferred to other jobs, which would provide better career pathways.
Anwar said measures should be taken to ensure officers have a fair workload considering the complexity and scope of duties assigned to each unit or division within a ministry or agency.
He said that under a programme to rationalise government representative offices and agencies abroad, overseas offices of ministries and agencies will be consolidated under one roof.
This includes ministries and agencies such as the tourism, arts and culture ministry, the investment, trade and industry ministry, the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade) and the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (Mida).
The rationalisation, which will take effect on Jan 1, is aimed at saving costs and optimising operating expenses.
“I want these reforms to be taken seriously,” he said.
“JPA and the finance ministry need to implement these measures, and I no longer want to hear any opposition, absurd justifications, stubbornness or rigid ‘sense of ownership’ that would jeopardise this implementation.
“We have inherited 60 years of history, and sometimes we continue to maintain departments and agencies that are no longer relevant. This must be standardised, not to eliminate existing staff but to streamline and prevent wastefulness.”
Anwar said the government has also agreed to raise the minimum entry qualification into the public service to the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia or its equivalent.
He said this means officers’ existing workload and task complexity will also be increased, which will indirectly encourage multitasking and multi-skilling.