Sarawak Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud said today that the Sarawak government is ready to consider giving an additional half-month bonus to its civil servants, which number more than 20,000.

The bonus payment would be discussed in the coming state cabinet meeting and "it's not hard to decide on it", Bernama quoted him as saying in Kuching.

Similar allocation

On July 17, Abdul Taib announced a half-month bonus to be paid before this year's Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebration after a similar allocation was made for central government staff in the economic stimulus package unveiled in May.

The 2004 Budget, presented by Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad yesterday, also included a half-month bonus for some 950,000 civil servants. The bonus, involving a RM400 million payout, would be implemented in stages starting next month.