The 10-per cent reduction in the salary of cabinet ministers as announced by Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohammad today is a smart move to improve the financial state of the country, said Cuepacs president Azih Muda.

He said this initiative was proof of the new government’s seriousness to revive the national economy.

“Cuepacs is taking this as a new logical move. The cabinet ministers are also not upset by this initiative because they will have other allowances.

"We also hope that the salary cuts are only of the cabinet ministers and does not apply to civil servants because their current salary may just be enough to support themselves,” he told Bernama when contacted today.

On the dissolution of the Land Public Transport Commission (Spad), Azih said Cuepacs hoped that this would not mean that the services of civil servants in the agency are terminated.

"Cuepacs agrees with the dissolution of Spad because its functions overlap with those of the Road Transport Department (RTD), but we hope the civil servants in Spad are absorbed into other ministries or departments,” he said.

- Bernama