PRIME MINISTER Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has issued a firm directive that there will be zero tolerance for bullying, intimidation, incitement — including racism — within the country, adding that strict action will be taken against all offenders, regardless of status.
Speaking at the 20th Civil Service Premier Assembly (Majlis Amanat Perdana Perkhidmatan Awam, MAPPA XX) at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC) on Friday, Anwar made clear that enforcement agencies that fail to act decisively will be replaced.
"The Cabinet has given its mandate, and I want to make it clear — whether it concerns the death of Zara in Sabah or the issue of the Jalur Gemilang, which we must honour and protect — these matters should not be exploited to inflame political tensions, or to criticise, insult, berate, or punish others without regard for rights or conscience," he said.
He warned that the government would not tolerate any form of selective inaction.
"I urge and give clear instructions to all enforcement agencies: whenever there is an offender, whether a prominent figure, a politician, or an ordinary member of the public who is clearly involved in acts of intimidation or incitement, I say this: enough," said Anwar.
The premier stressed that the MADANI government is committed to upholding the rule of law, justice, and social harmony, and that public institutions must lead by example.
This year's MAPPA XX, themed "MADANI Civil Service as the Pillar of Excellence", underscores the government's focus on integrity, efficiency, and innovation across Malaysia’s public sector, aligned with the principles of the MADANI governance framework.
Government Introduces One-Off Academic Recognition Incentive for Civil Servants
Anwar announced that Malaysia’s civil servants will now be eligible for a one-off Academic Recognition Award (HPA) in the form of a financial incentive for initiating and completing academic qualifications during their tenure.
The incentive applies to officers in both the Management and Professional Group as well as the Support Group, and will also be granted to those who attain recognised higher academic qualifications using their own financial means while in service.
“This incentive is awarded only once throughout the period of service,” Anwar said during his keynote address.
The rates set for the incentive are RM1,250 for recipients of a doctoral degree (PhD), RM1,000 for a master’s degree, RM750 for a bachelor’s degree, and RM500 for a diploma or equivalent qualification.
The government has allocated RM75.7 million to implement the incentive scheme, which is expected to benefit 91,672 public officers across various service categories.
In a related development, the Prime Minister also announced the extension of the Postgraduate Study Incentive Allowance (BITS) to include other ranks of the Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM).
This expansion will apply to personnel holding the ranks of Sergeant (equivalent to Grade Z4) and Staff Sergeant (Grade Z5). Moreover, the minimum service requirement to qualify for the allowance will be reduced from six years to four years.
“This initiative will benefit 3,789 members of the armed forces and will come into effect on 1 January 2026,” Anwar said.
RM3 Million Earmarked to Boost INTAN’s Role as Public Sector Excellence Hub
Additionally, Anwar said the government is investing RM3 million to strengthen the National Institute of Public Administration (INTAN) as a regional and global centre of excellence in public sector development.
The funding aims to enhance INTAN’s research and development capabilities in emerging technologies and governance. RM1 million will be allocated to upskill public officers in high-impact areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, and post-quantum cryptography (PQC), as part of efforts to future-proof public service delivery.
Another RM1 million will support INTAN’s position as a leading reference centre for best practices in governance, leadership, organisational management, and public–private collaboration.
The final RM1 million will fund the production of the INTAN Country Report—Malaysia’s own public sector benchmarking document modelled after international standards set by the OECD and World Bank.
Separately, Anwar said the government has scrapped the requirement for permanent public servants to be confirmed in service before qualifying for Haj leave, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced.
He said the decision was made in response to the extended waiting period many face to perform the pilgrimage, ensuring more flexibility for eligible civil servants - August 15, 2025
