The state government has been urged to increase the wages of all civil servants (both federal and state) working in Sarawak by an additional 10 per cent.
Chong Chieng Jen (DAP- Padungan) said it should include teachers, nurses and doctors serving in Sarawak.
“According to the Federal Government Budget, the total salary paid out to federal government’s civil servants in the country for year 2025 is RM105 billion.
“As such, the total salary of federal civil servant serving in Sarawak would be approximately RM10 billion. A 10 per cent top up to their salary would be in the region of RM1 billion,” said Chong during his debate on the Supply Bill 2025 today (Nov 13).
He added that the state government could afford such amount.
“More importantly, a response from Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg to my question submitted earlier this year reveals that employee compensation in Sarawak represents only 16 per cent of the state’s gross domestic product (GDP). In other words, the total wages of all employees in Sarawak account for just 16 per cent of the state’s GDP.
“The Malaysian employees’ compensation to national GDP is 33 pe rcent which is also low, but Sarawak’s figure is much lower.
“In layman’s term, Sarawak’s employees are very much under-paid. Therefore, I suggest that State Government share out the State’s wealth to its people,” he said.