Private sector bosses’ group hits out at Raya goodies move for civil servants

MEF’s Shamsuddin Bardan says civil servants have not been as badly affected by the pandemic as those in the private sector. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) has criticised the government’s decision to give special Aidilfitri payments to civil servants, saying private-sector workers affected by the Covid-19 crisis deserve more help.

MEF said those in the private sector have suffered pay cuts, allowance reductions or made to go on unpaid leave during the movement control order (MCO).

“Such special aid payment should not be made as government servants literally did not ‘suffer’ anything as their wages and allowances remained intact during MCO and the conditional MCO,” MEF executive director Shamsuddin Bardan told FMT.

He said small traders and the self-employed have lost their source of income during the partial lockdown.

The special payment for civil servants include permanent, temporary and contract-based appointees as well as those on full pay, half pay and unpaid leave.

Previously, hypermarket chain boss Ameer Ali Mydin called for civil servants to also share the economic burden from the financial impact of the pandemic.

Ameer, the managing director of Mydin, said it was only sensible that civil servants’ pay be reduced as well, adding that the savings could go towards helping the poor who have been most affected by the MCO.

“Anyone earning above RM3,000 should be taking a pay cut,” Ameer had told FMT in remarks which sparked outrage among civil servants on social media. - FMT