Contract Doctors Offered Permanent Posts In 2025 To Receive Relocation Allowance

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 9 (Bernama) -- The government has agreed to provide transfer and relocation allowances to contract doctors who were offered permanent appointments under the Health Ministry in 2025.

Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said the one-off provision allows eligible officers to claim meal allowances, hotel accommodation or lodging allowances, travel expenses, transportation of personal effects, transfer grants and miscellaneous expenses.

He said claims of up to 100 per cent are allowed for inter-regional transfers between Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah, Sarawak or Labuan, and vice versa.

“For transfers within Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan, claims are capped at 50 per cent of the total eligible amount.

“We hope this allowance will help medical officers relocate and adjust to their new postings, and the Health Ministry will continue to advocate for the continuation of this allowance,” he said when winding up the debate on the motion of thanks for the Royal Address for the ministry in the Dewan Rakyat today.

Meanwhile, Dzulkefly denied claims that the ministry had reduced the Regional Incentive Payment (BIW) following the implementation of the Public Service Remuneration System (SSPA) for federal civil servants.

“There has never been any reduction or cut in allowances, including the regional incentive. Instead, under the SSPA, the government agreed to set a fixed rate for existing recipients and a new fixed rate for newly eligible officers.

“For existing recipients, the fixed rate is based on the final BIW amount received before the SSPA came into effect, while newly appointed or newly eligible officers will receive a new fixed rate ranging from RM270 to RM960 per month,” he said.

Dzulkefly said the fixed-rate BIW was introduced through the SSPA, which came into effect on Dec 1, 2024.

He added that the BIW is a special allowance or additional incentive granted to officers posted or serving in Sabah and Sarawak.

-- BERNAMA