Pay hike for police and civil servants, efficiency and no corruption, 26.2.2007.

DAP National Deputy Chairman and MP for Kepong Dr Tan Seng Giaw calls on the Government to consider seriously the request to increase the pay of the police and the civil servants of lower income group, enforce the National Integrity Plan (PIN), improve efficiency and eradicate corruption.

Dr Tan refers to the statement of the Deputy Prime MInister Datuk Seri Najib who, yesterday, said that the Government agreed that there was good reason for the salaries of the lower income groups in the civilservice to be reviewed.

"There is a general feeling particularly for the lower income group that there is justification for the Goverment to look into it (pay hike)," he added.

Last year, the police submitted a proposal for a pay review. Cuepacs did likewise. Naturally, pay rise for over one million civil servants amounts to a huge sum. In the 2007 federal budget, the operating expenditure is estimated as RM113 billion. An important part of this is for salaries.

The Government must compare the salaries of the lower income civil servants and police with the cost of living. A police constable with a basic pay of RM 600 a month can scarcely survive in a city. Hence, reviewing the pay of these people is correct. How can they work well if their salaries are not enough for the present standard of living?

Today, the public grumble about the performance of civil servants. The incidence of serious crimes such as robberies and murders is causing concern. We would like to see the police overcoming these crimes and the civil servants perform well. We have to help them solve their cost of living.

In addition to pay rise, the Government must effectively enforce the National Integrity Plan, charge the corrupt in court, especially senior members. If those high up misbehave, what do we expect fromthose below them? We must take quick action on those who are notefficient or those who indulge in racialism.

Dr Tan Seng Giaw