Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the state government has managed to increase the Aidilfitri special bonus payment to civil servants this year due to its "clean CAT administration".

CAT is the acronym for competent, accountable and transparent - principles which the state tried to comply with since 2008.

Lim announced that the Penang government has agreed to increase the special bonus this year by 75 percent of the monthly pay or minimum RM700 for 4,178 civil staff.

About 1,486 supervisors and kindergarten teachers, 192 religious primary and 166 secondary school teachers will also enjoy the bonus.

A total of 522 teachers and staff of independent schools will be given RM300 each, and RM200 each will be given to 215 tahfiz, pondok and the Islamic kindergarten teachers in Penang.

All local authorities and state agencies will enjoy the special bonus as well.

The bonus, which amounts to RM7.95 million in total compared to RM5.22 million last year, will be paid on June 24.

Lim said since 2008 to 2014, the state has made bonus payment - totalling RM47.42 million - of one month's pay (minimum RM1,300) which was paid out in two installments.

"The move was to show appreciation for the contributions from the civil servants, while addressing the rise in inflation and cost of living due to the goods and services tax," Lim added.

Surplus budget every year

Lim said Transparency International and the annual auditor-general's report can vouch for the state's performance.

"Penang's clean government has made it possible for the state to have surplus budget every year which now stands at RM574 million in eight years (from 2008 to 2015) compared to RM373 million in 50 years (1957 - 2007)," he said in a statement today.

"It's clear that Pakatan Harapan has ruled the state more effectively in these eight years that 50 years under the previous (BN) government," added the DAP secretary-general.

Lim said this surplus annual budget has enabled the state government to provide special financial aid or bonus to its civil servants.

This is regardless of the bonus rate announced by Putrajaya, which is always at lower rate compared to the rate given by the state government, he added.