Sarawak to study possibility of raising state civil servants’ salaries

Sarawak premier Abang Johari Openg speaking to reporters after attending a Hari Raya Aidilfitri gathering in Simunjan, Sarawak, today. (Sarawak Public Communications Unit pic)

PETALING JAYA: Sarawak premier Abang Johari Openg says the Sarawak government will study the possibility of raising the salaries of state civil servants.

Abang Johari said the study would examine various factors and was expected to be completed in one-and-a-half months.

“Perhaps we can give a pay raise following the announcement by our prime minister today on the increment of salaries for federal civil servants,” Bernama quoted him as saying.

“This will involve financial implications (for Sarawak), but I believe we can bear the increase (in salaries), which we will announce in about a month and a half,” he told reporters after attending a Hari Raya Aidilfitri gathering in Simunjan, a district near Kuching.

He added that an official announcement on the matter would be made once the study was completed.

Earlier today, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced that the government would increase the remuneration of civil servants by more than 13% this year – which he said would be the highest ever given to civil servants.

He said the total income, including allowances, of civil servants on the lowest salary scale would, for instance, increase to a minimum of RM2,000 per month from the current RM1,795.

Anwar, who is also the finance minister, said the government had allocated more than RM10 billion for the salary adjustment, which would be applicable to all civil servants.