Critical Service Incentive Payment: Najib worried about the impact on the rakyat

KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 25): Former PM Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak is concerned that the stopping of Critical Service Incentive Payment (BIPK) to doctors, nurses, engineers and other professionals entering the civil service starting from next year may impact the people.

“I hope there won’t be a situation where government clinics and hospitals don’t have enough doctors or nurses, and the people are forced to visit private clinics and hospitals, which have raised their charges,” Najib wrote in his Facebook yesterday.

“Maybe the government no longer sees it as critical to hire medical lecturers, doctors or nurses to serve in clinics and public hospitals.

“Private clinics are allowed to double charges but the public critical services are abolished,” he said.

“The people asked you to abolish tolls and PTPTN, and you abolish pensioned posts, assistance and allowance for the people,” he added.

The Public Service Department (PSD) announced in a circular on Dec 20 that the BIPK will not be given to doctors, nurses, engineers and other professionals who are starting their employment from Jan 1, 2020 onwards.

But the service also stated that current “BIPK recipients will not be affected by the repeal and will continue to receive it according to the rates set out in Service Circular No 17 of 2007, until they leave the service”.

The PSD has explained that the BIPK for civil servants is not permanent, is designed to be needs-based and reviewed every five years.