Guan Eng: Critical allowance not under Finance Ministry

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 4): The critical service incentive allowance (BIPK) for 33 schemes in the civil service is not under the Finance Ministry, finance minister Lim Guan Eng clarified today.

The BIPK for the 33 schemes was originally supposed to be discontinued for new civil servants starting work on Jan 1 but the move has been put on hold after heavy criticism.

Lim was reported saying by The Malaysian Insight that BIPK is within the purview of the Public Service Department (JPA).

“That [BIPK] is under the JPA, not the Finance Ministry. It’s not under me,” Lim told the media after attending an event in Butterworth, Penang.

He therefore could not answer questions on BIPK and added that “the matter is best handled by the JPA”.

The Cabinet is expected to discuss the BIPK issue it at its first meeting of the year next week.