LIMITING the calculation of pensions for civil servants to 30 years is unfair to those who have served for longer than that, some for as long as 38 years or even more.

This group of civil servants started at a very young age, around 20 years or even earlier. They were known as Division Four officers

(later Kumpulan D). Most of them were policemen, clerks, office boys, file searchers, technicians, mechanics, drivers and gardeners among others.

Take this calculation as an example. A Division Four officer with more than 38 years of service, with a current pension of RM600 would get an increase of RM120 on the formula of 30 years of service.

However, a Division Two or Three officer with a current pension of RM2,000 would get an increase of RM400. This makes the gap even bigger. The rich get more, the poor get chicken feed. To be fair to all, particularly to the lower income group, the actual years of service should be the basis for calculation.

Mohd Ariffin Mohd Yusof
Ipoh

Source: The Sun – May 29, 2008