“RM10K to live comfortably” – Cuepacs Hopes Prices of Goods Won’t Rise Following Civil Servants’ Salary Increments

It was a good week for civil servants, and it will be a good month for them when their increments, which PMX announced earlier start rolling into their bank accounts.

With the 13% increment waiting for them, word has it that the prices of goods are likely to increase too. Cuepacs is hoping that WON’T be the case.

In a program last night on Wacana Sinar titled “Increased Salary, What About Productivity?” (May 7), the general secretary of Cuepacs said the market prices of goods have to be reasonable and fair to all consumers, especially when the living costs are on the rise and when the last salary revision for civil servants was done 21 years back.

“We want the market prices to be fair when an increment happens, not another increase in prices of goods.”

For illustration purposes only

1 job is not enough

1 of the panels, Abdul Rahman was also on board with the hope that prices of goods will remain the same.

PMX announced earlier that the minimum salary for civil servants will be RM2,000 and despite the figure, Abdul believes that the minimum wage can only help so much. Some civil servants don’t have the luxury to call it a day after their shifts end in the evening.

“Some civil servants have to look for another job, or a part-time job not just to support the cost of living but also their families.”

He added,

“RM2,000 is barely enough, especially for those living in Klang Valley. You need RM10,000 to live comfortably here.”

In the meantime, an economist expert, Dr Baayah Baba also reminded the government NOT to rely solely on subsidies as the money source for civil servants’ increments. The increment involved an RM10 billion fund, marking the highest increment for civil servants in Malaysian history.

“The government has to source their finances from somewhere else. Maybe through investment of multinational companies or business taxes to support the increment.”

Congratulations to all the civil servants on the long-overdue increment! Just keep in mind what PMX said – if you’re lazy and often go MIA at work, you don’t deserve the increment.

Do you think the prices of goods will go up following the increment?

Also read: PMX Reminds Civil Servants that Only Those Who Perform Well at Work Deserve the 13% Increment