Media statement by Edward Ewol Mujie in Kota Kinabalu on Monday, 10^th October 2011:

Pensioners given raw deal

The 2012 budget presented by the Prime Minister cum Minister of Finance give a lot of perks to the existing civil servants by giving increment between RM80 to RM320 depending on their grades. Besides that a new civil service scheme known as Sistem Saraan Baru Perkhidmatan Awam (SBPA) and whoever opted to SBPA will be given an increment between 7% to 13% according to their grades with effect from January 2012.

However, the pensioners are only given 2% increment without waiting for salary adjustment/revision with effect from 01.01.2013. Although this is good news to the pensioners, however it does not bring much benefit to all pensioners as among the total of about 618,000 pensioners may be there are only 50% of them receiving less than RM1,000.00 per month. I wondered why the increment not following the formula of 7% to 13% and implemented at the same time that is on 01.01.2012.

As people getting older they need better food and various type of supplement to upkeep their good health, so he said he hopes that the government will consider revising the 2% increment for Pensioners to 7% at least.

The new retirement age of 60 has much complication as far as those who are near to the 58 years mark. Many people will be affected as far as EPF, in line of promotion, after retirement business venture and health are concerned. I hope that there will be some contingencies measures to be provided to loosen and cushion off the burden and implication faced by the to-be-pensioners next year.

* Edward Ewol Mujie, DAP Sabah State Vice Chairman & Local Government and Housing Bureau Chief