Posted by On 27 July 2023, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced an overarching economic framework for the nation’s policies – MADANI ECONOMY. Among the many initiatives he announced during the speech, he discussed aligning the salaries of civil servants with the Government’s financial capacity.
The Government will provide a special appreciation assistance of RM300 to civil servants grade 56 and below and RM200 to Government retirees which also includes pensioners, issued pension recipients, EPF retirees, optional retirees and those who have not received pension. This move is expected to benefit over 1 million civil servants which also includes contract appointees and over a million retirees.
Since then, new details on these ‘special awards’ have emerged. These awards are called Bantuan Khas Penghargaan (BKP) for civil servants and government pensioners.
METHOD & ELIGIBILITY OF PAYMENT OF BKP
- The following groups are eligible for the special payments:
- Public Service officers of the Management and Professional Group and Executive Group Grade 56 and below who are still serving 10 August 2023.
a. Permanent, temporary and Contract of Service (COS) appointed officers
b. Officers on full paid leave
c. Officers on half-pay leave
d. Officers who are on leave without pay
e. seconded officers including to agencies whose compensation management is separated
2. The following groups are also eligible for BKP:
- appointed officers of MySTEP who are still serving on 10 August 2023 and were appointed before 10 August 2023 provided that their contract period has been in effect for at least 30n consecutive days
- interim teachers
- Self-appointed drivers by officers of Main Position Grade B and above, as well as Special Grade A and above who is qualified as a driver but is not provided with a driver by his departments
- Drivers self-appointed by Administrative Members as well as Judges and Judicial Commissioners
ELIGIBILITY IS ALSO EXTENDED TO THE FOLLOWING:
- For Government retirees, including recipients of pensions issued under the pension law, Employees’ Provident Fund Scheme (EPF) retirees who retire from public service upon reaching the mandatory retirement age option of 55,56,58 and 60 years or retire for Health Reasons (ASK), optional retirees who have not received a pension on or before 10 August 2023, they will be paid RM200 by the Public Service Department (JPA) while pensioned and non-pensioned veterans by the MAF Veteran Affairs Department (JHEV).
- Retirees and veterans who are re-appointed on permanent, temporary and COS appointments and are still serving on 10 August 2023 will be made by JPA/JHEV and the balance of RM100.00 will be paid by the department where the officer is serving.
- Federal Civil service Officer who died on 10 August 2023 are eligible to be given BKP Year 2023 of RM300.00
THE FOLLOWING ARE INELIGIBLE FOR BKP PAYMENTS
- Officers in the Top Management Group and equivalent including officers who are acting, borrowed/temporarily transferred and special placement to Main Position Grade/Special Grade
- Those subjected to disciplinary action punishment of dismissal or demoted during the period 1 January 2023 to 10 August 2023
- Those whose service is terminated in the public interest during the period 1 January 2023 to 10 August 2023
- Those who resigned during the period 1 January 2023 to 10 August 2023
- Pensioned officers who give up their pension rights for joining the Statutory Body Separated Remuneration (BBDS)
Officials who have been detained, suspended or a letter of charge has been issued by the Disciplinary Authority (PBTT) will be delayed in the granting of the Civil Servant and Government Pensioner BKP this year 2023. Officers are only eligible to be paid the 2023 Civil Servant and Government Pensioner BKP after being acquitted of disciplinary charges or are being punished other than dismissal or demoted by the relevant PBTT.
Lastly, the BKP will be paid on 10 August 2023. The department where the officer served on the payment date will be the one responsible for the payment.