Pensioners happy with special payment of RM750

PETALING JAYA: Retired teacher Zainab Mohamad was delighted to hear that government pensioners will get a special payment of RM750 under Budget 2018.

“It’s good that next year we’ll be getting something although we’re not working anymore,” said Zainab, 59.

Under Budget 2018, retired civil servants will get RM500 in January next year while the remaining RM250 will be paid out before Hari Raya.

As for civil servants, they will get a special payment of RM1,500.

Budget 2018 also stated its priorities for the welfare of senior citizens, people with disabilities and children.

There will be an allocation for RM603mil for about 144,000 senior citizens in which their allowance would be increased by RM50 to an amount of RM350 monthly.

Retiree Jamaludin Ismail, 63, who is physically disabled, lauded the move to increase the allowance for senior citizens like him.

“RM350 a month really helps us get by with our daily expenses. I would apply for it, given a chance,” said Jamaludin.

“And I hope that the pool of recipients can be widened accordingly.”

Meanwhile, the MTUC described as “unexpected” the move by the Government to allow civil servants to receive cash in lieu of accumulated leave.

“Converting unused leave days into cash is a move that is unexpected by the union,” said its president Abdul Halim Mansor.

These civil servants can receive the cash award in place of accumulated leave of more than 150 days to be taken during the retirement year.

Both women and men in the civil service will also receive better maternity and paternity benefits which entails an increase of maternity leave from 300 days to 360 days throughout their service, limited to a maximum of 90 days a year.

“We hope that the benefit and birth coverage extends to the women in the private sector too,” Abdul Halim said.

Budget 2018, he said, was beneficial to all Malaysians, comprehensive and easy to follow.