Civil servants who retire under the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) scheme, and their dependents, are now eligible for the free medical facilities at government hospitals, Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak announced today.
Najib also announced that the gratuity payment for those opting for early retirement under the pension scheme would now be paid in full, thus doing away with the part-payment of the gratuity introduced over a year ago.
This was possible, he said, due to the government’s wise economic management, saying it managed to bring the country back to economic recovery.
Najib announced the decision, which takes immediate effect, while addressing civil servants at the 12th Civil Service Premier Gathering, here today.
“This is a mark of appreciation for the civil servants for their deeds to the country,” he said.
Present were Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and Chief Secretary to the Government Mohd Sidek Hassan.
Civil servants under the EPF scheme who are on a mandatory retirement — from the federal or state civil service or from the local government — or those who retire under Section 6A (6) of Act 227/239 are eligible for the free medical facilities.
It does not cover those who choose to resign or leave the service of their own accord, Najib said.
Previously, the facilities are only given to pensioners.
Najib said the government was also reviewing the Malaysian Remuneration Scheme (SSM) with the aim of making the country’s civil service more productive, innovative, creative and high-performing.
The prime minister said the comprehensive studies would not only cover remuneration but also at creating a dynamic structure in aid of the government transformation programme.
“The most important thing is that the country’s civil service must be able to reach the global benchmark,” he said.
– Bernama
CJMY
