NO PAY RISE FOR CIVIL SERVANTS; NO NEW SPORTS CENTER in LONDON; TARRC Existing FACILITIES UTILISED Fully; RM1 Million ALLOCATION - Athlete’s WELFARE

With PM Abdullah as Finance Minister trying so hard to reduce the country’s deficit budget, it is not surprising, the government is saying NO to demands for a pay rise revision for the lower end of the civil servants support group and also a NO to the proposed high performance sports complex.

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Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi :"The government was expected to incur additional cost of about RM6 billion under the exercise."

PUTRAJAYA, Sept 28 (Bernama) -- Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said Thursday the government was not prepared to consider the request for a salary revision for civil servants from the support group and police personnel.

The Prime Minister said any salary revision would involve all public sector employees, and the government was expected to incur additional cost of about RM6 billion under the exercise.

"At present, I can't say we are ready to cough up such a big sum. The government's financial capability must be taken into consideration.

"This is because the government has also to spend a huge sum on development for the people," he told a press conference after chairing the Cabinet Committee on Public Service Management and Salary meeting here.

Cuepacs was recently reported to have asked for a hike in the basic salary of RM480 for the support and lower groups, while Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan also proposed that the basic salary of police personnel of lower ranks be revised.

Abdullah, who is also Finance Minister, said it was a known fact that salaries of some police personnel were low, but if the allowances were included, their gross incomes were higher than those in certain categories of the public sector.

"However, the burden on the police is increasing. The matter (salary adjustment) could be considered," he added.

The Prime Minister said although a salary revision had not been undertaken for a long time, the government from time to time had made salary adjustments, besides approving various allowances and bonuses for public servants.

The Public Service Department had earlier said that since 1992, the government had made salary revisions and adjustments five times.

"There had certainly been an increase when civil servants enjoyed salary adjustments of up to 10 per cent," said Abdullah.

He also touched on the provision of the Cost of Living Allowance (Cola), besides bonus payments to civil servants involving an allocation of RM2.4 billion.

He said a salary revision meant that the government would also have to review the pension.

"And pension is not a small matter for our country. This means more money (will have to be spent by the government) if it is also reviewed.

"But a general salary revision will involve a massive exercise," he added.

However, he said the PSD would study the proposed salary revision as a whole.

Abdullah also announced the incentive payment of RM100 a month for firemen providing emergency medical treatment to disaster victims before the medical team reaches the scene.

He also said that the federal government would negotiate with the state governments on extending the working hours gradually for both federal and state civil servants nationwide.

"The proposal is aimed at facilitating the operations between agencies, either between federal and state agencies or head offices which are based in Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya with state branches, to be more effective and productive."

As part of efforts to improve the public service delivery system, Abdullah said lateral appointments of public service personnel would be extended to the federal, state and district levels.

This involves appointing contract staff with wide experience outside the public service to serve the government.

The Immigration Department would also be strengthened with the creation of the Management and Professional Group at the service level.

Abdullah said the meeting also noted that those who wish to be appointed as penghulu must have not less than 10 years' experience in community work.

"This is to avoid those who are too young or have no experience from assuming the post," he added.

M'sia May Not Build New Sports Complex In London, Says Najib; Sept 28, 2006 16:19 PM

Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak: "A centre at the TARRC will be vital if the country aspires to produce more world-class athletes like Nicol David"

PUTRAJAYA, Sept 28 (Bernama) -- A new sports complex may not be built in London but facilities at the Tun Abdul Razak Research Centre (TARRC) in Brickendonbury may be used as a high performance training centre for Malaysian athletes, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said Thursday.

The Deputy Prime Minister said the centre was necessary to realise the government's vision of excelling in sports at the international level.

"A centre at the TARRC will be vital if the country aspires to produce more world-class athletes like Nicol David. It will help facilitate certain sports which require to base their athletes abroad to gain valuable exposure.

"The centre will also serve as a transit or forwarding base for our athletes who go overseas for competitions, especially in Europe," he told reporters after chairing the meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Sports Development.

Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Azalina Othman Said said today the government would not build a new complex but would utilise facilities at the existing centre.

Najib said the national Under-20 and Under-17 football teams could be based at the centre and compete with teams in England and Europe.

He said the Youth and Sports Ministry and the National Sports Council would meet national sports associations to discuss their requirements before a final decision was made.

Today's decision by the Cabinet Committee on Sports Development puts to rest earlier speculations and reports that a new sports complex would be built in Brickendonbury costing RM490 million.

The 19.2ha TARRC has facilities like an administrative building, laboratory, staff quarters, canteen, kitchen, football field, 10m swimming pool and a cricket oval.

Najib also announced that a foundation to oversee athletes' welfare would be set up with an initial allocation of RM1 million, while sports schools in the country would enjoy a flexible education system to enable school-going athletes to excel both in sports and studies.

"Since the prime objective to set up such schools is to produce elite athletes who can represent the country, they must be given flexibility to extend their duration of studies based on their requirements.

"If an athlete requires three years to sit for his or her Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination after the PMR (Penilaian Menengah Rendah) examination, they should be allowed to do so," he added.