It is speculated that the minimum salary of civil servants will be set at RM1,200 a month. Everyone is hoping that Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak will announce this soon, which will definitely uplift their families’ welfare as living costs have gone up. We can never deny this as the costs have been increasing every year with or without the Goods and Services Tax (GST).

Currently, there are still civil servants drawing monthly salary of RM850, which is quite difficult for them to make ends meet.

In the beginning of the year in January, Cuepacs president Azih Muda suggested that a minimum salary of RM1,200 for civil servants was to help them offset their expenditure due to the rising costs of living.

I totally agree with Azih on this matter as survival of their family is important for one, therefore with the right salary they can work with right mind set which will increases productivity. If the government prioritises performance and efficiency, minimum salary will play a greater role. The increase will also be motivation for them, which will increases productivity at large.

Use of the seven management practices can improve civil servants’ productivity and focus on incentives for these civil servants should become important to the Public Services Department (PSD).

By 2020 Malaysia will achieve its developed status, thus it is paramount basic salary becomes an important criteria for these civil servants to lead a comfortable life.

A CHANDRAKUMANAN is PPP vice-president and Federal Territories BN social media head.