KUALA LUMPUR, June 2 — The government today announced a RM500 ex gratia payment to each of the country’s 1.6 million civil servants and RM250 each for another 775,000 pensioners.

It said the payments will cost an estimated RM1 billion from public coffers.

"The government hopes this special aid will lessen the financial burden of civil servants and pensioners preparing for Hari Raya Aidilfitri 2017,” the Finance Ministry said in a statement.

The payment will be made before June 9.

Hari Raya Aidilfitri is expected to fall on June 25 and 26.