It's Time For Civil Servants To Enhance Productivity, Performance Under SSPA

PUTRAJAYA, Dec 2 (Bernama) -- After 12 years, federal civil servants will now enjoy the long-awaited salary adjustment through the implementation of the revised Public Service Remuneration System (SSPA), which takes effect this month.

In line with the introduction of the SSPA, civil servants have also been reminded to enhance their  quality of their work, commitment, and dedication.

“With the progressive salary system under the SSPA, productivity must also be increased. There is no room for lazy, negligent, or careless civil servants, and no more excuses for staying stagnant without innovation, change, and improvement,” Chief Secretary to the Government (KSN) Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar was reported as saying at the 2024 National Convention on Public Service Reform on Nov 24. 

 In fact, he said that the new era of public service is reinforced and strengthened by the SSPA, which focuses on the welfare and wellbeing of civil servants, besides aiming to give a motivational boost to enhance the efficiency of public service delivery.

Under the SSPA, officers in the Implementing, Management and Professional groups will receive a phased salary adjustment of 15 per cent; eight per cent in Phase 1 starting December this year, and seven per cent in Phase 2 starting January 2026.

The Top Management group, however, will receive a salary adjustment of five per cent, with four per cent in Phase 1 and three per cent in Phase 2.

In announcing the SSPA on Aug 16, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the last salary adjustment for civil servants was done in 2012 and the adjustment made through SSPA had also taken into account the 21.3 per cent increase in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) over the past 10 years, especially as the price of food and beverages, which are basic necessities, had also increased at a rate of 24.8 per cent.

The SSPA, which replaces the Malaysian Remuneration System (SSM), is not only aimed at improving the income of civil servants in general but is also designed as a performance-based salary system.

In this regard, Anwar, who is also the Minister of Finance, today reminded civil servants to improve their performance in line with the salary increase following the implementation of the SSPA.

He also emphasized that excellent performance is necessary as the public expects better and higher-quality services from the public sector.

“We agreed to this (SSPA) because we recognise and believe it is a fair measure. I only hope that all of you (civil servants) will ensure much better performance because the public expects improved services,” he said at the monthly assembly of the Prime Minister's Department in Putrajaya.

In line with the Prime Minister's vision for public service reform, the Kuala Lumpur Declaration - Tekad Bersama Perkhidmatan Awam Malaysia was launched on Nov 23 as a pledge symbolising the unity of hearts of civil servants at both federal and state levels to elevate the dignity of a people-centric public service.

-- BERNAMA