Penang CM responds to Barisan Nasional members who criticised him for releasing a RM2,000 bonus for civil servants under the state’s 2018 budget this year, instead of next year.
He said the money would be given out at the end of the year, not next year, mainly due to the back-to-school month expenses that might crop-up at that time.
Lim said the bonus payment was also made possible by savings this year resulting from “an efficient state government machinery and surpluses”.
“Our open competitive tenders have also allowed us to save more money. Also, yearly, our projected deficits have been turned into surpluses, hence, we can pay bonuses to our hardworking civil service.
“I say when we have the money, why don’t we pay this year itself,” Lim told reporters today.
Lim’s remarks came after the state opposition described the bonus payout announcement as illogical.
The Penang Barisan Nasional had said if it was part of the 2018 state budget, the payout should be made next year, not this year.
A minimum RM1,000 bonus will be paid to all Penang civil servants and an additional RM1,000 to those with no disciplinary records.
“We all know January is an important month, where students go back to school. So we have decided to give a bonus in December to ease the civil service members’ burden.”
Umno assemblyman Muhammad Farid Saad had said it was incredulous for Lim to announce a bonus payout this year while announcing it as part of the 2018 state budget.
“He (Lim) wants to undermine the federal government’s bonus payout which would be paid before Hari Raya next year.
“When the budget is for next year, not this year, why announce bonuses for this year?
“It is clear that the Penang government is trying to show that it is more hebat (great) than the federal government,” Farid told newsmen during recess at the state legislative assembly yesterday.
Lim said the opposition’s suggestion was akin to them asking Penang to follow Putrajaya’s footsteps in the payout.
“We will use our own way, and you use your own. To each their own.
“But please don’t try to sabotage our attempt to pay bonuses. It is clear the opposition has not done its homework… if there is a problem, the auditor-general could have voiced out.”
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