In conjunction with the 2024 Labour Day celebration, Malaysia’s prime minister announced a salary hike of more than 13% for civil servants, involving an allocation of more than RM10 bln. However, the salary adjustment, which is expected to take effect in Dec, is not automatic. Civil servants who are lazy and non-performing will not enjoy the salary hike. Civil service is often considered as an iron rice bowl. Ironically, due to this feature, civil servants are generally not the most motivated and efficient.
A major weakness of Malaysia’s economy is poor implementation. The country is not short of ideas and economic plans. Yet, poor implementations have seriously weakened the impact of government policies. Tying rewards with performance is essential to enhance the quality of Malaysia’s civil service.
Meanwhile, the discipline should be extended to parliamentarians, including Cabinet ministers, who habitually skip parliament sessions. Lawmakers, whether in the government or the opposition camps, are paid by taxpayers’ money too. They should serve the people diligently by actively participating in the discussion of issues that affect the people and the country’s future. Those who do not perform should not receive the same reward as those who do.
A major weakness of Malaysia’s economy is poor implementation. The country is not short of ideas and economic plans. Yet, poor implementations have seriously weakened the impact of government policies. Tying rewards with performance is essential to enhance the quality of Malaysia’s civil service.
Meanwhile, the discipline should be extended to parliamentarians, including Cabinet ministers, who habitually skip parliament sessions. Lawmakers, whether in the government or the opposition camps, are paid by taxpayers’ money too. They should serve the people diligently by actively participating in the discussion of issues that affect the people and the country’s future. Those who do not perform should not receive the same reward as those who do.
