Dept to study police pay hike proposal

Source : NST

PUTRAJAYA: The Public Service Department is looking into the police proposal for higher pay, the prime minister said.

Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said the National Implementation Task Force (NITF) recently agreed to refer the proposal to the PSD.

Abdullah, who is also Internal Security Minister, said NITF members were briefed by police representatives on the pay increases and future development of the force.

"The PSD will come up with recommendations," Abdullah said after chairing the third National Water Resources Council meeting yesterday.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan was recently reported as saying that a new and better scheme of service was needed as the force restructured.

The prime minister said police salaries "are not that high and this may have led to corruption-related and other problems".

"There are personnel getting allowances for special duties. However, the (basic) salaries are the same.

"The proposal is for an increase in salaries at all levels," he said.

Asked about the contract of Anti-Corruption Agency director-general Datuk Seri Zulkipli Mat Noor, which was due to end this month, Abdullah said he would make an announcement "very soon".

Zulkipli has been accused of graft by former ACA Sabah chief Mohamad Ramli Manan.