RM100 mil a year savings with 4 agencies scrapped

Deputy minister Md Farid Md Rafik gives details in response to Wan Junaidi’s question about government job cuts.

PETALING JAYA: The abolition of four agencies has resulted in federal government savings of RM100 million a year from cuts in staffing and operational costs, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.

Md Farid Md Rafik, deputy minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, said the RM100 million savings include emoluments and operational costs.

Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar (GPS-Santubong) had asked the government to state how many departments and agencies had been abolished since Pakatan Harapan came to power, and how many officers, staff and workers had their services terminated.

Farid said the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD), the Special Affairs Department (Jasa), the National Services Training Department as well as the National Civics Bureau were abolished.

Officers and staff were not terminated but were absorbed into other agencies. Others voluntarily resigned.

Farid said no permanent appointees were relieved of their duties. However, since June last year, 1,691 officers, or 11.3% of 14,869 contract staff, had their contracts terminated as their projects or assignments had been completed.

The remaining 13,178, or 88.7%, are still in service, he said.

Wan Junaidi had also asked how much the government was able to save, as well as the number of new departments and agencies set up, the manpower and costs to handle them.

Farid said the Land Public Transport Agency (APAD) was set up with 361 positions, less than SPAD’s 802 positions. APAD’s handling costs for this year, which cover emoluments and management, amount to RM44 million.

Farid said a detailed study was being carried out to ensure there was no overlap of functions between agencies and ministries. “The study will help determine the agencies that will be abolished, moved or retained,” he added. - FMT