KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 3): Several good news and improvements for civil servants will be announced in the Budget 2018 which is scheduled to be tabled on Oct 27, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

National news agency Bernama reported today, quoting him as saying for the past several decades, the government has highly appreciated and expressed its gratitude to civil servants who have always been together with the government administration, working together and supporting each other.

The government, especially during the past eight years, has implemented various initiatives and improvements for the benefit and welfare of civil servants, Najib added.

These included raising salaries of civil servants by between 7% to 13% in 2012, increasing the minimum pension from RM720 to RM820 for those serving for 25 years or more in 2012, fixing minimum pay at RM832 to RM1,200 per month beginning July 2016, and giving an annual salary movement of 3% annually for officers who had reached the maximum salary, Najib said.

He was speaking at the 15th Civil Service Message Gathering (MAPPA), which was held at Putrajaya today.

Additionally, Najib, who is also Malaysia's Finance Minister, said the government had also implemented improvements in terms of civil servants' welfare.

These included raising the Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) by RM50 per month in 2012 for civil servants residing in suburban areas and increasing the housing allowance to RM300 per month in 2015, Najib said.

“All the facilities and allowances enjoyed by the civil servants were due to strong cooperation between the government and the civil service, which is efficient.

"These will then create a strong symbiosis in speeding up or leapfrogging Malaysia to be listed among the 20 most developed countries in the world by year 2050,” Najib added.