MALAYSIA
Anxious Malaysian Public Servants have been given yet another assurance from the new Government that it does not intend to introduce mass redundancies.
However, it was an assurance hedged with caveats that will do little to settle nerves in the workforce.
Minister of Finance, Lim Guan Eng (pictured) said the bureaucracy’s size was “disproportionate” given the total Malaysian population and the country’s “challenging fiscal position”.
He said the Government was keen to improve the productivity of the Public Service.
Speaking at a function organised by the Associated Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry Malaysia, Mr Lim said the Government, as the employer of the 1.6 million strong Public Service, needed to look after its welfare.
“At this juncture, we do not intend to cut their pay, but in future, our approach will be to look into ways to increase their productivity,” Mr Lim said.
A former Chief Minister of Penang, Mr Lim said improving the productivity of Government employees could make the country more business friendly and foster a better economy.
“In Penang, we didn’t increase our taxes,” Mr Lim said.
“Land-related tax rates are still the same, but our tax revenue increased because the economy has broadened due to business-friendly policies.”
He also said cost savings could be achieved by doing away with direct negotiations in the awarding of contracts and by implementing open tenders.
Kuala Lumpur, 21 July 2018
