Cuepacs regrets 'ill-timed' idea by Mydin MD to cut civil servant salaries

CORONAVIRUS | Civil service unions have expressed regret over businessperson Ameer Ali Mydin’s suggestion that civil servants take a pay cut to ease the government’s financial burden during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Services (Cuepacs) president Adnan Mat said the proposal was ill-timed as public servants have been the ones leading the country’s response to the ongoing virus outbreak.

“Cuepacs regrets and opposes the suggestion in total.

“Cuepacs views Ameer’s (photo, above) suggestion as inappropriate and untimely given how the government, which is led by public servants, has been trying its best to control the virus [...]

“Not only is his public statement capable of creating negative perception of public servants, but it can also undermine the spirit of public servants who have been working hard to stop the outbreak [...],” he said in a statement today.

Rather than propose a pay cut, Adnan opined that Ameer ought to stand with public servants during this critical time.

“Public servants continue to work as usual. Whatever the weather and despite the risk of contracting Covid-19, those at the frontlines continue to work,” he added.

In an interview with Free Malaysia Today yesterday, Ameer was quoted as comparing measures taken by the private and public sector in light of the economic downturn caused by Covid-19.

The managing director of the popular Mydin hypermarket chain said many private firms have been left with little choice but to slash salaries and cut jobs.

He, thus, proposed that the government reduce salaries of the 1.6 million-strong public service and channel the funds saved to those most affected by the movement control order (MCO).

This was especially since cabinet ministers have contributed two months’ pay to the government’s Tabung Covid-19 fund.

The businessperson later took to Facebook to clarify that his suggestion was made in his personal capacity while drawing upon the steps Mydin has taken to mitigate the crisis, which include cutting his salary completely.

“Mydin (the hypermarket chain) has never stopped supporting the role and effort of all public servants, especially the frontliners, in ensuring that the administration is run smoothly.

“We walk together with the government during this difficult episode,” Ameer said.

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- Mkini