Penang to give its civil servants RM800 each for good work!

PENANG, Dec 2 — The Penang government announced its second special financial assistance to the state’s civil servants as the country prepares for possible snap polls next year.

The announcement comes days after the federal government’s decision to allow pensioners to withdraw a RM500 special financial assistance that was extended to civil servants in the Budget 2011 proposals.

Today, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng (picture) said his administration's special financial assistance was awarded in recognition of the civil service’s commitment to the success of the state government’s policies.

“As a sign of the appreciation to the state civil service, the state government has proposed to provide a second special financial assistance as much as RM800 to all members of the public service.

“With RM500 for Hari Raya, this means that every member of the public service has received RM1,300 as a whole,” he said during an assembly with Penang civil servants this morning.

Lim added that the state government will spend RM6.25 million in rolling out the second special financial assistance package.

“The special financial assistance worth RM800 involves 3,153 state department officers with a financial implication of RM2.5 million. If we consider everybody including local authorities, statutory bodies and state agencies involving 7,812 officers, it will amount to RM6.25 million.

“The special financial assistance will be given to all public service officers in the Penang state administration including top management and its equivalent including officers with senior posts and special grades,” he said.

Penang’s second financial assistance package comes with the 13th general election likely to be held in the first quarter of next year as the state tries to mend strained ties with the civil service.

In July, Lim was involved in a spat with Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan and Penang State Development Officer Nik Ali Mat Yunus.