SERDANG – The government has agreed to increase the allowance of volunteer community development assistants from RM500 to RM800, which will benefit 9,439 Community Development Department (Kemas) staff, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced today.
Speaking in front of about 7,000 Kemas members at the department’s 60th anniversary celebration here, the prime minister said the government also agreed to increase the subsistence allowance of Persatuan Bekas Anggota Kemas Malaysia (PBKAM) members from RM300 to RM500.
Recalling his meeting with PBKAM when he was leading the Rural and Regional Development Ministry, now known as the Rural Development Ministry, Ismail Sabri said that the association had requested a subsistence allowance, which was later approved at RM300 per month.
“In remembering the services of 4,423 PBAKM members, I agree to increase their subsistence allowance to RM500 per month,” he said, in appreciation of the contribution of Kemas members to various efforts to improve the rural community’s quality of life.
At the gathering, which was attended by Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid, Ismail Sabri said the government also approved an allocation of RM8 million for the digitalisation of 800 Kemas preschools (tabika).
In his speech, the prime minister said the government also agreed with some of Mahdzir’s suggestions regarding improvements to the Kemas service scheme, especially involving contract staff and district Kemas officers.
Among Mahdzir’s suggestions in his speech earlier was to shorten the qualification period of contract officers for appointment to permanent posts from 15 years to 10 years, and to relax the conditions for appointment to permanent posts for contract officers who have served more than 10 years but less than 15 years.
Also proposed is a two-grade promotional jump for Grade S19 Community Development Assistants to Grade S22 and S26; the restructuring of the service scheme for Kemas tabika and taska educators and assistant skills and community officers by providing promotion opportunities from Grade S29 to S32 and S38.
Ismail Sabri then instructed Public Service Director-General Datuk Seri Mohd Shafiq Abdullah, who was also present at the gathering, to take immediate action on the matter.
The prime minister said that being in the frontline, Kemas members can be agents of change and act as the eyes and ears of the government. – Bernama, August 28, 2022
