BERA, March 12 — The rural and regional development ministry will review the granting of monthly allowance to former Community Development Department (Kemas) contract staff who did not receive the allowance due to retiring before 55.
Minister, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the ministry was prepared to review the allowance in various aspects before making a decision because of its concern for the former Kemas staff.
“... we will study the matter and if we feel we can, we will support but in the end, it will be the budget that will determine it. At the moment, I have not received any letter from PBAKM (Association of Former Members of Kemas Malaysia) to meet me,” he told reporters after opening the Chalet D’Kosugu under the programme, ‘Desa Lestari Kampung Seberang Guai’ here today.
He was commenting on a report in a local newspaper (Utusan Malaysia) today, which claimed that the issue involving more than 2,500 former Kemas contract staff whose services were terminated before they turned 55 and did not receive the RM300 monthly allowance would be redressed.
PBAKM deputy president Datuk Ramlah Abbas said PBAKM president Datuk Melati Ali would meet Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, who is also PBAKM patron, and Ismail Sabri in the near future.
Meanwhile, Ismail Sabri said the RM300 monthly incentive to PBAKM announced in Budget 2015 had benefited more than 4,000 former Kemas members nationwide.
He said based on existing regulations, individuals who had served for 15 years and retired at 55 were eligible to receive the allowance.
“The issue at the moment is because former Kemas employees served less than 15 years or retired before 55," he added. — Bernama
