No Raya Bonus from Government for private sector workers, farmers,...in 2012

What about Raya bonuses for private sector workers, for self employed, farmers and small business persons?

Again in 2012, Malaysia's BN government (and also the Selangor State PR government) seem to be just showing concern for public sector workers only - and pensioners of the civil service? Raya bonuses.....

CIVIL servants will be paid a half month bonus with a minimum payment of RM500 ...Sharing the joy of the 1.27 million civil servants are 657,000 pensioners who will receive a RM500 special payment.

Penang Government is giving out a half-month Hari Raya bonus with a minimum payment of RM600 to civil servants in the state ...In Selangor, Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim said in a statement that a half-month bonus with a minimum payment of RM500 plus an additional RM200 will be deposited into the civil servants’ Selangorku Savings scheme next week

What about the other workers, those in the private sector - many of whom are in a bad state - not even able to enjoy that very low minimum wage that the government has set at RM900 which will only start to take effect next year....

Are all other workers and persons in Malaysia not been contributing to Malaysia - that is how it feels when this BN government (and some PR government) only seem to be interested in giving civil servants (and pensioners) bonuses...allowances... etc.

Bonuses - well, this is something that employers give their workers when they are making profits and their financial situation is good. Well, Malaysia has been removing subsidies, increasing taxation, .... all the while saying that Malaysia is in a precarious economic condition - there have also been word that Malaysia would go 'bankrupt' if the government does not reduce its public spending in the form of subsidies...

So, why is the BN government literally spending money which they should be saving for stability?

As it is, workers in the public sector are already treated as a preferred class of workers - they have pension, and they are even covered with regard to heart cases at the Institut Jantung Negara..., etc... their wages are also certainly better. Employment stability is also something that they have.. 

But, as far as contributing to the well-being of Malaysia, I believe that all workers (both private sector and public sector), the self employed, farmers, fisher persons, small business persons, etc - all have done their part, and governments need to acknowledge these contributions...

If special help for Hari Raya or some other festive season is to be handed out - make sure it reaches all Malaysians - how do you do this? Well, there are so many creative ways....Let's see:-

a) Say RM20 subsidy on all household electricity bills, or water bill for the Raya period..

b) Say a special subsidy for rice, flour, cooking oil - which will effective bring price down for the period..

c) Say postal rate subsidy so that the stamp cost for sending festival greeting cards would be reduced...

The above would be ways of benefiting all Malaysians -- and when it covers basic necessities like these, it is less likely to be taken advantage of by the undeserving...

Half-month bonuses - well the higher paid would surely be getting a lot several thousands of ringgit .. (By the way MPs, Senators and ADUNs also would, I believe fall into this category). If the intention of the government was to assist primarily those in the low-income bracket - then give these bonuses just to that category ... or better just a RM500 to all. It would have been better.

It is time that all private sector workers, self-employed, small/oetty business persons, farmers, fisher persons, etc to reject such governments that only assists the workers in the public sector ---- and remember that this is the money of all the peoples in Malaysia including  private sector workers, self-employed, small/oetty business persons, farmers, fisher persons, etc. I do not think Malaysians are happy with a government that uses their money in such a discriminatory fashion...

Who is spending for all these PM visits, parties, gifts during the Hari Raya period? Is it not coming out of the government coffers...the people's money. Subsidies were removed ... prices have gone up - all by actions of this BN government who said that money must be saved...spending reduced to prevent our Malaysia from going bankrupt... and the effect of these cuts in subsidies is seen today at the Pasar Ramadan.... 

1 jug of sugar cane water in 2011 was RM3 - today in 2012, it is RM4 (in some places, one may be lucky to get it for RM3.50). Cost of living has certainly increased - thanks to Najib and the BN government ... so, please do not use Malaysia's money indiscriminately and for wrong purposes... 

KUALA LUMPUR:  CIVIL servants will be paid a half month bonus with a minimum payment of RM500 on Aug 9 in a Hari Raya gesture announced by the government yesterday.

Sharing the joy of the 1.27 million civil servants are 657,000 pensioners who will receive a RM500 special payment. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak made the announcement yesterday. Chief Secretary to the Government Datuk Seri Dr Ali Hamsa thanked the government for its contribution.

Speaking before a buka puasa function with Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin here, Ali said the payment was timely. “I hope civil servants will spend it wisely.” Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Services (Cuepacs) president Datuk Omar Osman said this demonstrated the government’s appreciation of civil servants and pensioners.

“This contribution is meaningful for low income earners among civil servants, especially in helping them to prepare for Hari Raya.” Malaysian Government Pensioners Association president Datuk Paduka Raja Wan Mahmood Pawan Teh said the payment proved that the government appreciated the services and sacrifices of pensioners for the country’s development.

He said this showed that Najib was a noble leader who was concerned about the welfare of civil servants and pensioners. Later,at a buka puasa with some 3,500 residents of Taman Nirwana, Ampang, Najib said Barisan Nasional was capable of developing policies that made the economy sustainable and resilient. At the same time, BN could also find new sources of revenue, he said.

Najib added that this had enabled the government to implement programmes, such as Bantuan Rakyat 1Malaysia (BR1M), to help the people, including 23,000 families in Ampang who had received the RM500 aid.

“If we just continue to give, how long can it last? The answer is: not long. If we continue to spend without adding to our income, even the highest hill can be scraped flat.

“There is no point in aiming to be a popular government if it cannot develop the economy and is clueless about how to obtain wealth and attract investments.”

He said the government had done a lot through the Islamic concept of islah, or transformation. He took a swipe at the Pakatan Rakyat-led Selangor government over the state’s water problems. He added that a Federal Government that was able to generate new ideas and wealth would have no difficulty addressing the water situation.

Najib presented a contribution of RM2 million for the construction of Masjid Al-Mustaqim, a RM1.45 million contribution for mosques and surau in Selangor, and contributions of RM100 each to 100 single mothers and the disabled.

Present were Najib’s wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, Selangor BN coordinator Datuk Seri Mohd Zin Mohamed and Ampang parliamentary coordinator Datuk Ismail Kijo.

Later, Najib performed terawih prayers at Surau Taman Sri Angsana Hilir in Kampung Pandan,where he presented contributions from Kelab Putera 1Malaysia to the heads of mosques in Selangor. - New Straits Times, 26/7/2012, Raya bonus for civil servants, pensioners

PETALING JAYA: In wanting to outdo their political opponent Barisan Nasional, the Pakatan governments in Selangor and Penang have declared a higher minimum bonus payout for civil servants employed by the two states.

The Penang Government is giving out a half-month Hari Raya bonus with a minimum payment of RM600 to civil servants in the state.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the total payout estimated to be more than RM3.9mil would be given to 3,780 civil servants on Aug 9.

In Selangor, Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim said in a statement that a half-month bonus with a minimum payment of RM500 plus an additional RM200 will be deposited into the civil servants’ Selangorku Savings scheme next week.

This handout comes on the heels of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s announcement of a half-month bonus with a minimum payment of RM500 for civil servants in the country and a special payment of RM500 for government pensioners as appreciation to civil servants.- Star, 27/7/2012, Selangor, Penang up ante in Raya bonuses