Earlier this month, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced that the government would increase the remuneration of civil servants by more than 13% this year, which he said would be the highest ever given to civil servants.

Penang chief minister Chow Kon Yeow said today the state government will follow in the federal government’s footsteps, but the matter requires further deliberation before it can be implemented.

“We will follow the guidelines set (by the federal government) as the prime minister stated in his recent speech that the salary increase for each civil servant will vary,” he said in a Bernama report.

“There will be an assessment to determine the rate (of increase).”

Chow was speaking to reporters after a ceremony marking the start of construction of SJKC Kuang Yu in Batu Kawan, Penang.

In his speech to mark Labour Day on May 1, Anwar said those in the lower-income group may see their salary increase by up to 25% or 30%, adding that the Cabinet would fine-tune the details before making a decision.

Anwar, who is also the finance minister, said civil servants’ minimum income would exceed RM2,000 a month under the soon-to-be-finalised public service remuneration system (SSPA).

The current minimum income for civil servants, including salaries and fixed allowances, is RM1,795 a month.

He said the government had allocated more than RM10 billion for the salary adjustment, which would be applicable to all civil servants.

Sarawak premier Abang Johari Openg previously also said the state government will study the possibility of raising the salaries of its civil servants.

He said the study, which would examine various factors, is expected to be completed by mid-June.