GE13: Those who need to travel should also get the following day off, says Cuepacs

KUALA LUMPUR: Civil servants who are rostered to work on polling day on May 5, or have to travel a distance to vote, should be given the day off, said Cuepacs president Datuk Omar Osman.

He said those who needed to travel should also get the following day off.

“This is because it will be difficult for them to return the same evening, especially if they are working the night shift.

“We are concerned that they might not travel far to vote if there is no day off,” he said after chairing Cuepacs' special congress meeting here yesterday.

Omar also urged civil servants to not be involved in “trouble-making”, especially on polling day, adding that disciplinary action could be taken against them.

“It is up to civil servants who they want to vote for but we have advised them not to be involved in provocation or (partake in) political agendas,” he added.

He stressed that Cuepacs members would not be candidates, adding that the umbrella body for civil servants fully supported the ruling Government as many of its requests had been fulfilled.

Omar also announced that the Labour Day celebrations would be held on May 1 at Nilai Indoor Stadium in Negri Sembilan.

“This year's Labour Day celebrations will be extra special as it will be held close to the general election.

“We will also update civil servants on the latest regarding the SST (Transformative Remuneration System) and on the early annual increments announced in March,'' he said, adding that he would meet the Prime Minister and Chief Secretary to the Government to get an update from them.

Civil servants would see various initiatives being implemented under the SST, including the restructuring of pay packages for civil servants with static salaries, fast-track promotions and a review of 81 service schemes.

They are also expected to receive increments of between RM80 and RM320 in July, a move which would cost the Government some RM1.5bil.

Of the 81 schemes, Omar asked for several to be implemented first, including revised salaries for the police, army, customs, immigration and prisons personnel.

-thestar/aa.