PRIME MINISTER Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has credited Malaysia’s domestic progress and its rising international profile to the dedication and teamwork of the nation’s civil service, saying the performance of any prime minister is inseparable from the strength of the public sector.
Speaking at the gala dinner marking the 30th Triennial Congress of the Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Services (CUEPACS), Anwar said Malaysia’s recent diplomatic engagements had impressed international observers, but these achievements were often wrongly attributed solely to political leadership.
“… many have expressed admiration and awe at our successes. The ASEAN Summit, the recent GCC–ASEAN meeting and our overseas visits have shown that Malaysia is viewed as a country with strong potential in terms of investment, new technology, AI and so on,” he said.
“But sometimes people forget that this happens because of teamwork, from the lowest-ranking civil servants who clean the premises and prepare the facilities, to those at the front line, right up to senior officials and Cabinet ministers.”
The event was attended by Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar, Public Service Department Director-General Tan Sri Wan Ahmad Dahlan Abdul Aziz and CUEPACS President Datuk Dr Adnan Mat.
During the dinner, Anwar announced an additional RM500,000 contribution to support the three-day convention, which concludes tomorrow.
He also expressed appreciation for the efforts of the Public Service Department (JPA) and CUEPACS in ensuring smooth implementation of the new Public Service Compensation System (SSPA), which has received strong approval from civil servants.
“Extraordinary. And the spark, the reminder from the heart, sincere and certainly impactful for me and my colleagues, the Chief Secretary, the KPPA and the entire JPA machinery who worked tirelessly to complete the new remuneration system that has been so well received by the civil service as a whole,” he said.
Anwar stressed that values of compassion and care can only be realised when lower-income civil servants are given proper attention in the implementation of the new system.
“To translate it into action means ensuring that our family — the broader family of civil servants at the lowest levels — is given due consideration and compensation that is as fair as possible. That is the MADANI Islamic policy,” he added.
Earlier, CUEPACS President Adnan Mat pledged unwavering loyalty and service to the MADANI Government, saying the union and the entire civil service would ensure that government delivery systems continue to serve the public effectively.
He said the union welcomed the Prime Minister’s reminder in the recent Public Service Address that civil servants must deliver returns commensurate with the government’s initiatives.
“... that is our commitment to facilitate the public with the best service delivery system that we will provide to the people and the government. Moreover, the MADANI Government has always been deeply concerned about the welfare of civil servants,” he said.
“Believe and trust that whatever happens in the future, whatever policies may change, it will not detract from the principle of ‘no less favourable’ — not less than what we have today.” - December 11, 2025
