Sidek and Abdullah should resign!

Prime Minister Dato Seri Najib Tun Abdul Razak annnounced today the revised pay rise for the entire civil servants.

The announcement cancelled the announced new Public Service Remuneration Scheme (SBPA) that was criticise heavily for feathering the own nest by the higher echelon of the civil service.

The announced pay rise scheme is based on the improved version of the current Malaysian Remuneration System (SSM). The Star SMS alert reported the increase as:

8/3 Civil servants to get salary hike: Management/professional grp - 13 per cent; Jusa staff - 9pc; Grades 2 & 3 - 8pc; Grade 1 & Chief Sec - 7pc/STAR

The recent saga of the new salary pay rise only reminds us of the once popular British TV comedy series, Yes Prime Minister in the episode, A Real Partnership.

In the episode, the Chief Secretary and Exchequer was manouvering to increase their monthly income by a more significant increase than the lower grade using hidden increases in allowance, perks etc.

Watch the episode in full in the Veoh video, below:

To understand what had happened, read this column by Dato Zaini Hasan of Utusan Malaysia:

JIKA ISU INI TAK SELESAI, JANGAN HARAP PRU-13 BOLEH DIADAKAN...

Oleh Zaini Hassan

Utusan Malaysia
22/2/2012

ISU ini amat sensitif. Ia lebih sensitif daripada isu ladang lembu dan lain-lain. Jika isu ini tidak selesai, jangan diharap pilihan raya boleh diadakan.

Ia membabitkan isu gaji kira-kira 1.3 juta kakitangan awam, yang kesemuanya, termasuk keluarga mereka layak mengundi. Ingat lagi kisah ‘penyapu’ di Selangor? Negeri itu jatuh antara sebabnya kerana penjawat-penjawat awam termasuk DO, ADO sehinggalah ke peringkat peon, begitu marah kerana dihina.

Jangan cari pasal dengan golongan ini. Mereka ialah kumpulan pelaksana dan tulang belakang kepada dasar-dasar kerajaan. Jika mereka marah mereka boleh bertukar warna menjadi Mr. Blue atau Mr. Green seperti dalam watak filem Incredible Hulk. Dan itu amat bahaya.

Dalam hal ini Perdana Menteri sememangnya cukup sedar. Satu tindakan cepat sedang diambilnya. Memang PM sendiri tahu jika isu ini tidak selesai maka Pilihan Raya Umum Ke-13 ini tidak boleh dilaksanakan. Maka itu, YAB PM telah mengarahkan sebuah jawatankuasa petugas khas (task force) semakan semula gaji duduk berbincang dengan Cuepacs mengenai hal ini, setelah Presiden Cuepacs, Datuk Omar Osman sendiri mengamuk.

Setakat ini sudah tiga kali task force ini berbincang. Hari ini sekali lagi rundingan akan dilangsungkan. Kali ini ia akan membabitkan cadangan lima perkara daripada Cuepacs sendiri. Omar akan mengetuai perbincangan itu bagi pihak kesatuan tersebut dengan wakil-wakil dari JPA, Pejabat Peguam Negara, Perbendaharaan dan agensi-agensi lain.

‘‘Kita mahu rundingan ini diselesaikan sebelum 30 Mac ini,” kata Omar kepada saya semalam.

Omar seperti biasa cukup bertenaga. Cakapnya juga cukup tegas. Dalam rundingan itu, beliau diberi tanggungjawab dan kepercayaan oleh kumpulan 54 (pengurusan dan profesional) ke bawah untuk membawa suara dan nasib mereka ke atas.

Kumpulan-kumpulan itu termasuklah: Jawatankuasa khas Gred 54 ke bawah PTD dan Pegawai Tadbir; Persatuan Pensyarah Universiti Profesor Madya Ke Bawah; Persatuan Jurutera Kebangsaan; Kumpulan Doktor-doktor Pakar Gred 54; Kumpulan Anggota Keselamatan Polis; Kumpulan Gred 54 Teknikal selain gabungan Cuepacs sendiri terdiri daripada Kumpulan Pelaksana 1 dan 2.

Hari ini saya mahu menyiarkan sepucuk surat yang dihantar kepada saya oleh seorang penjawat awam. Bunyinya agak keras. Tapi ditulis secara profesional, bernas, ada logik mengenai gaji baru mereka di bawah skim baru SBPA (Skim Baru Perkhidmatan Awam).

Begini bunyi surat itu. Semoga ia menjadi iktibar kepada kita semua.

Struktur perkhidmatan di bawah SBPA terbahagi kepada empat:

* Kumpulan Premier (Strategic and key positions(Turus): KSN, KSU)

* Kumpulan Pengurusan Tertinggi (Jawatan Utama dan Gred Khas: JUSA C, B dan A)

* Kumpulan Pengurusan dan Profesional (Pegawai Gred 41 hingga Gred 54)

* Kumpulan Pelaksana (Pegawai dengan kelayakan masuk PMR hingga Diploma)

Kumpulan pegawai yang mendapat kenaikan gaji paling banyak ialah kumpulan Premier dan JUSA. Difahamkan semua KSU diberikan opsyen bersara dan seterusnya berkhidmat secara kontrak. Persaraan pula dikira sehingga umur 60 tahun. Ini bermakna semua KSU akan mendapat pencen dan gaji selain daripada faedah persaraan lain seperti gratuiti. Pencen sahaja, mengikut jadual gaji SBPA untuk kumpulan ini akan menjangkau puluhan ribu ringgit. Apakah rasionalnya keputusan ini memandangkan kebanyakan KSU telah pun berada di akhir tempoh perkhidmatan? Gaji kumpulan Premier ini difahamkan sama besar atau lebih besar daripada CEO di GLC atau di perbadanan-perbadanan swasta.

Isu penting SBPA ialah ketidakadilan yang amat ketara dari segi kenaikan gaji. Contohnya kumpulan JUSA C sahaja mendapat kenaikan gaji melebihi RM5,000 dengan peratus kenaikan di antara 57 peratus dan 81 peratus! Sementara kumpulan pelaksana N22 hanya mendapat kenaikan gaji di antara RM100 dan RM200 (ada yang lebih rendah) dengan peratus kenaikan di antara 3.7 peratus dan 7.5 peratus sahaja.

Difahamkan di bawah skim baru ini, Premier 1 akan menerima gaji sebanyak RM60,000 sebulan tanpa elaun; Premier 2 RM40,000 tanpa elaun dan Premier 3 RM40,000 tanpa elaun dan Premier 4 RM35,000 tanpa elaun. Tunggakan pampasan adalah antara RM800,000 dan RM1 juta.

Secara logiknya peratus kenaikan di antara kumpulan tidak boleh terlalu berbeza kerana ia akan meningkatkan jurang perbezaan pendapatan serta mengundang rasa tidak puas hati penjawat awam yang 80 peratus terdiri daripada kumpulan pelaksana.

Ketidakpuasan hati kumpulan pelaksana ini, ditambah dengan keluarga masing-masing, mampu menumbangkan kerajaan.

Sebagai rumusan SBPA telah menidakkan semua usaha kerajaan untuk menonjolkan kerajaan sedia ada sebagai a caring government. SBPA dibuat secara tergesa-gesa, tidak telus dan merupakan the biggest blunder Jabatan Perkhidmatan Awam (JPA) dalam sejarah Malaysia.

Pihak JPA tidak perlu lagi memberi taklimat di sana sini mengenai SBPA tetapi mengakui bahawa SBPA sebenarnya tidak adil, tidak telus dan JPA perlu mengambil langkah positif untuk memperbaikinya.

Adalah menjadi satu tindakan yang bodoh, sia-sia dan akan menjadi bahan ketawa umum dan dunia untuk masih lagi mempertahankan bahawa SBPA merupakan satu sistem saraan yang baik dan mampu membawa negara kepada negara berpendapatan tinggi menjelang 2020.

Kerajaan juga perlu mengambil tindakan tegas kepada mereka yang bertanggungjawab (merangka dan meluluskan tangga gaji itu) bagi menunjukkan kerajaan bertegas serta prihatin kepada kesejahteraan semua kumpulan penjawat awam dan rakyat.

Dengan kepincangan SBPA yang tidak masuk akal dan tidak terfikir oleh kebanyakan penjawat awam ini patutkah Kumpulan Premier, di antaranya terlibat secara langsung dalam penggubalan SBPA, dibayar pencen beserta gaji yang sebegitu tinggi?

Sekiranya dikatakan bahawa SBPA disediakan oleh pihak konsultan, maka apakah peranan kumpulan JUSA dan Premier yang merupakan pemegang strategic dan key positions dalam perkhidmatan awam?

Begitu bunyi surat itu. Benar juga apa yang dijelaskan itu. Ia umpama langit dengan bumi atau antara atap rumbia dan atap genting. Ia juga umpama strata rakyat di India, yang terlalu daif dan yang terlalu kaya.

Yang mendapat imbuhan maha-besar itu hanyalah kira-kira 4,000 kakitangan berbanding 1.3 juta lain yang sedang marah. Dan difahamkan peruntukan untuk membayar kos kepada 4,000 itu merupakan 2/3 daripada keseluruhan peruntukan untuk kesemua kakitangan kerajaan.

Kita berharap rundingan itu akan mencapai satu kata-putus yang menang-menang. Jika tidak, menurut Omar: ‘‘Ia akan menjadi satu isu yang amat kritikal. Dalam road show kami, kakitangan telah memberi kata dua…''

Kita berharap kata dua itu tidak seperti kata-kata Dr. David Banner sebelum dia bertukar warna menjadi Incredible Hulk: ‘‘...don‘t make me angry. You wouldn‘t like me when I’m angry. (Jangan buat saya marah. Saya tidak akan sukakan saya jika saya marah.)

Saya berharap satu formula yang lebih bertamadun dapat dirangka demi kesejahteraan semua pihak, terutamanya kepada kerajaan semasa.

Ingatlah YAB PM telah bekerja amat keras, janganlah kerana skim yang tidak masuk akal ini akan menyebabkan apa yang beliau usahakan rosak sebelanga.

Jusa C pay rise by 57 to 81%?

That is funnier than the 47% pay rise attempted by the Chief Secretary, Sir Humphrey and Exchequer Sir Frank in the Yes Prime Minister episode.

Seriously, it a blatant self serving attempt to feather their own nest by our Chief Secretary to the Government, Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan and Director General to the Public Service Department, Tan Sri Abu Bakar bin Haji Abdullah.

On a more serious note, the two senior officers of Government seemed to ignore the Government effort to prioritise the welfare of the common peoples and their lower grade staff over themselves.

As civil servants, it is supposed to be their role to implement the new Government policy and to practise it first in their new pay rise.

After much protest by unions like CUEPACS, the Government had to halt the implementation of the new SBPA scheme and review it.

The report of the new and fairer pay sheme can be found in the Bernama Report below:

Najib Announces Cancellation Of SBPA

March 08, 2012 12:01 PM

PUTRAJAYA, March 8 (Bernama) -- The Prime Minister Thursday announced the cancellation of the new Public Service Remuneration Scheme (SBPA) and the adoption of an improved version of the current Malaysian Remuneration System (SSM).

Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak also announced salary adjustments of 13 per cent for employees in the management and professional group from grade 1 to 54, nine per cent for the Jusa A, B and C grades, eight per cent for the staff grades 2 and 3, and seven per cent for staff grade one and the Chief Secretary to the Government.

During the announcement, which he made at a special gathering with civil servants at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre here today, Najib also said that the government had agreed for the Cost of Living Allowance (Cola) to be increased from RM200 to RM250 for the B area, and from RM100 to RM150 for the C area.

The Prime Minister also announced the setting up of a commission comprising the relevant interest groups to make a comprehensive and holistic study of the remuneration system for civil servants.

He said any suggestion proposed by the commission comprising interested parties who worked using the principles of discussions and consensus would be considered according to the affordability of the government.

He said the SSM salary structure would be adapted from the Matrix Salary schedule to the Minimim-maximum Salary Schedule with the rate of Annual Salary increase (KGT) for Grades 1 to 54 fixed between RM80 and RM320 according to grade.

The rate of increase of the annual salary for JUSA grades and above remained according to the SSM annual salary increase and given adjustment according to the percentage agreed upon.

Najib said the government had also agreed that the Critical Service Incentive Payment (BIPK), Regional Incentive Payment (BIW), Interior Incentive Payment (BIP) and the Educational Subject Incentive Payment (BISP) would be maintained according to the existing regulation under the SSM.

For teachers, he said the government maintained the decision on career path improvement based on the time-based principles of the Education Service Officers as announced in the 2012 Budget.

"I hope this decision can ease the dissatisfaction among the various levels of civil servants. As for the other issues concerning the service and scheme of service, they would be studied by the commission announced earlier," he said.

Najib said the civil servants played an important role in ensuring the success of the implementation of the national transformation programme.

He said the SBPA which was introduced early this year had resulted in the feeling of uneasiness among civil servants and because the present government was sensitive to the needs of the people, it listened to their woes.

"We are not like those had planned to dismiss the civil servants when they had not even formed the government," he said, adding that following the feeling of dissatisfaction, the government had decided to review the SBPA on Jan 12.

He said a task force chaired by the Director-General of the Public Service Department was later set up and given three months to study all complaints and feedback submitted, and it had been given the responsibility to suggest a solution to the government.

Najib said the task force received 1,087 complaints and feedback besides several memorandums, and 23 unions had submitted proposals while eight trade unions comprising the Cuepacs, the National Union of Teaching Profession (NUTP), Royal Malaysia Police, Malaysian Armed orces, Malaysian Medical Association, Malaysian Dental Association, the Malaysian Academic Association Council and the Council of Registrars had submitted proposals.

He said the government was hoping for the civil servants to appreciate and work together in facing the challenge from the uncertain global economy, and although the government succeeded in taking the country out of the global economic uncertainty, efforts must be intensified to ensure that the country continued to be free of the uncertainty in the years to come.

He said that in making the decision, the government must think of the best measures, while it was giving priority to the interests of the people, at the same time it did not ignore the other factors, especially in terms of sustaining the national economic stability, or in other words, the government's financial capacity must be taken into account.

"Remember that whatever we do today will have a long-term impact. The government does not want Malaysia to face a financial tragedy like Greece or the other countries," he said.

Najib said in order to ensure that the national economy was not affected by the uncertain global economic scenario, the government must continue the efforts to reduce the national fiscal deficits.

He said that in 2010, the national deficit reached 5.6 per cent, while last year, the deficit was reduced to five per cent and this year, it was hoped that the deficit would further be reduced to 4.7 per cent.

The last salary revision was made in 2007, which saw civil servants enjoying a pay rise of between 7.5 per cent and 35 per cent, with the support group receiving a rise of 35 per cent and the highest group 7.5 per cent. -- BERNAMA

Sir Humphrey and Sir Frank's attempt were stoppped by the sharp political advisor, Mrs Weinright without embarassing the Government.

However, Tan Sri Sidek and Tan Sri Abu Bakar's attempt had caused serious embarassment to the Government and could have serious political consequences to the Government.

It is not a good image of the Government to be laughed at. This is real live and not some British TV comedy series.

For being caught, both Tan Sri Sidek and Tan Sri Abdullah should resign.

Or be sent away on gardening leave pending investigation by MACC for alleged abuse of power for self interest.

Gardening leave shouldn't be funny because there could be clauses in the penal code that fit the offenses they have done.


- Another Brick in the Wall