I refer to the letter Civil service should forget pay rise for now .

The imposition of an increase in electricity rates, toll rates and in the price of petrol notwithstanding the increased price for education and health care all add up to an astronomical increase in the cost of living.

When they have insufficient income to sustain their family or when money is not enough, what do you expect the civil servants to do? They will start to accept 'gifts' and later on, they will insist on the 'gifts'. Can you blame these people? Charity begins at home.

I support an increase for a pay rise for all lower-ranking civil servants on the condition that the government decreases the number of civil servants. No more new recruitment. Increase the pay of all civil servants as proposed by Cuepacs.

Cut off all the unnecessary projects like the Brickendonbury sports centres, the donation to Cambridge University, the Monsoon Cup Regatta etc. When civil servants are happy, the rakyat will be happy and Malaysia will prosper.

I am a businessman of fourth-generation 'pendatang' and I know that if the civil servants are paid well, they can live with pride and honour and corruption will be minimised. Let no politician try to impose their will on these civil servants.

The government should never try to be the employer of last resort. Go for quality not quantity.