The Public Services Department (PSD) has agreed to extend the deadline to return the option forms for the Public Service New Remuneration (SBPA) scheme to Jan 15.

Its deputy director-general (operations) Dr Ismail Alias, who announced the matter today, said the deadline to return option forms for the extension of retirement age to 60, however, remained at Dec 30.

“We will continue with the SBPA and Cuepacs has not really rejected it. There are now two deadlines for the options. For the extension of retirement age option, the deadline will remain at Dec 30 because it involves many legal issues.

NONE “While for the SBPA option, since the period given was deemed too short, the PSD has agreed to extend it to Jan 15,” he told reporters after meeting with a Cuepacs delegation led by its president, Omar Osman ( left ) in Putrajaya today.

The three-hour meeting was held to find solutions to issues requiring clarification in the implementation of the SBPA scheduled to begin on Jan 1.

Yesterday, Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak had instructed the PSD and Cuepacs to meet to find suitable solutions in regard to the issues.

Prior to this, civil servants were given 15 days, starting Dec 16, to make a decision whether to opt for the SBPA or to remain in the existing remuneration scheme.

'Five issues were discussed'

Overall, Ismail said the meeting favoured the implementation of the SBPA and that five issues, including on the exit policy raised by Cuepacs, had been thoroughly discussed.

“So, in this context, our approach adopted is to look at several issues raised by Cuepacs, discuss them over and finally reach an agreement,” he said.

For those who had signed the SBPA option form, Dr Ismail said they need not worry as the SBPA would still be implemented.

Meanwhile, Omar said the meeting had achieved a very good consensus and it was the assurance needed by the civil servants to sign the option forms.

Omar said Cuepacs had no problem with the retirement age option and civil servants could sign it on their own capacity.

“It’s the 15-day period to sign the SBPA option that is deemed too short,” he said.

He said the meeting today had also agreed to make grades improvement, namely for Grade 17 of the administrative and security groups, especially in the Road Transport Department, Fire and Rescue Department, as well as the Immigration Department.

“We have also agreed that in the next three months, a total review will be carried out,” he said.

On the exit policy, Omar said the meeting had also agreed that a representative from Cuepacs must be present as an observer in the PSD’s panel before any action is taken on a civil servant to prevent injustice.

“We have discussed the matter. Civil servants cannot be forced by their departments to take early retirement under the exit policy, the departments will only report the problem to the PSD.

“On the PSD panel, Cuepacs will be present as an observer and together, we will try to solve it from there.

“If we are in the panel, we can help determine whether it’s fair for the civil servant to be forced to take early retirement,” he said.

Omar also said that a briefing would be held next week between Cuepacs and director-general of Public Services Abu Bakar Abdullah pertaining to issues on the salary increment of between seven and 13 percent for civil servants.

- Bernama