KUCHING: Sarawak will pay state civil servants special financial assistance equivalent to two months' salary in recognition of their contributions to the state's development.
Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Abang Openg said the assistance would be based on their last-drawn basic salaries for November 2026 and paid before the end of this year.
He said the payment was expected to benefit about 19,851 state civil servants, with an allocation of RM144 million.
"I am pleased, on behalf of the cabinet and Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), to announce special financial assistance equivalent to two months' salary for members of the Sarawak State Public Service," he said when delivering his winding-up speech at the Sarawak Legislative Assembly sitting.
The state government also announced a one-off payment of RM700 for federal civil servants serving in Sarawak.
Abang Johari said the assistance was in recognition of the service and sacrifices of federal personnel, including teachers, healthcare workers and security personnel, who also contributed to the state's development.
The payment is expected to benefit about 132,347 federal civil servants, with an estimated allocation of RM93 million. It will be disbursed in the first quarter of 2027.
The state government also announced a one-off payment of RM500 for each retired member of the Sarawak State Public Service.
Abang Johari said the payment was expected to benefit about 10,141 retirees, with an allocation of RM51 million, in recognition of their contributions during their service.
The GPS government also announced a one-off incentive of RM700 for each private media practitioner registered with six media associations in Sarawak, in recognition of their role in delivering information and news professionally.
Abang Johari said the state's development depended on the hard work of civil servants in implementing various projects, including bridges, clean water and electricity supplies, and infrastructure connecting rural communities.
He said an efficient, transparent and accountable public service was essential to achieving the Post-Covid-19 Development Strategy 2030 and strengthening Sarawak's efforts to claim its rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963.
He said the state government would continue to safeguard civil servants' welfare by building and upgrading government offices and quarters, including in remote areas, while investing in leadership development and capacity building.
He urged Sarawakians to preserve peace and unity and not allow external elements to divide the state.
"Instead, remain united in defending Sarawak's rights and future to achieve the Sarawak Maju Makmur agenda," he said.
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