The Public Services Department (PSD) has denied there are between 400,000 and 800,000 civil servants in the implementation group who are still getting a monthly salary of between RM805 and RM820.

In a statements today, the PSD said the lowest group in the civil service involved those in Grade 11 with a salary of RM832 to RM850.

According to the statement, the total income for the group, inclusive of salary and allowances is between RM1,257 and RM1,275.

“According to government official records, the number of civil servants earning RM850 and less is 3,072,” it said.

Yesterday, Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Services (Cuepacs) president Azih Muda was reported as saying that there were 400,000 civil servants nationwide who were still earning salaries of less than RM805 a month.

Azih said most of them are general assistants and drivers who entered the civil service with a Form Three Assessment Certificate (PMR) qualification.

Meanwhile, when contacted by Bernama , Azih said a salary of between RM832 and RM850 could still be considered as below the poverty line, considering the current cost of living.

“We are now talking about basic salary, not including the housing allowance, civil service allowance and the cost of living allowance. Allowances are not real income... civil servants who live in government quarters have their housing allowances withdrawn,” he said.

He reiterated Cuepacs’ urging to the government to increase the salary of civil servants in the lowest group by at least 35 percent or fix their minimum salary at RM1,200 a month.

Azih said the salary increase could motivate civil servants to increase productivity and performance, as well as possess a positive attitude.

“They must be paid enough and have a comfortable life. With a basic salary of RM800 a month, can they afford to buy a home which costs RM150,000 under the 1Malaysia Civil Servants Housing scheme?

“The answer is they cannot,” he added.

- Bernama