Anwar hints at 'Merdeka gift' for police, armed forces with faster promotions
The Prime Minister says the government has agreed in principle to simplify and speed up promotions for PDRM and Malaysian Armed Forces officers, with an announcement expected soon.
MELAKA – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has hinted that he will announce a "Merdeka gift" for members of the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) and the Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) involving the promotion process for officers in both services.
He said the matter had been agreed to in principle after he asked Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar and Public Services Director-General Tan Sri Wan Ahmad Dahlan Abdul Aziz to study the promotion issue raised earlier.
Anwar said the announcement would be made soon, either at the Public Service Premier Address next month or at the Merdeka eve celebration on Aug 30 at Stadium Merdeka.
"When I was in Gemas, Negeri Sembilan, the promotion process for the armed forces and the police in general was raised.
"Since then, I have asked the Chief Secretary and the Public Services Director-General, who heads the JPA, to study it and give some room, and we have agreed in principle that promotions, especially for officers in the armed forces and the police, be simplified and expedited so that they are nearly on par with the rest of the public service," he said. (Quote translated from Malay.)
He was speaking at the Semarak Kenegaraan Programme at Kem Terendak, Sungai Udang, here today.
Defence allocation up 35 per cent
Anwar said the government continued to pay attention to the welfare of ATM personnel, including salaries, allowances and housing.
Over the past three years, he said, the allocation to the Defence Ministry had risen by 35 per cent compared with earlier levels to strengthen national defence readiness.
"In these three years I am grateful that our spending to care for the welfare of our (ATM) personnel is the highest in history. Their salaries and allowances are the highest in history. Housing repaired, including by the Engineer Corps, is the highest in history," he said. (Quote translated from Malay.)
At the event, Anwar also announced an allocation estimated at RM1 million for maintenance works on mosques and surau at Kem Terendak, Kem Sungai Udang, Kem Masjid Tanah and Kem Bukit Beruang.
The government also approved welfare contributions totalling RM147,000 to the Armed Forces Charity and Welfare Body (BAKAT), covering various formations and units at the four camps.
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