PUTRAJAYA: Those who disagree with the government's plans to abolish the pension scheme for new hires in the civil service can voice their dissatisfaction in Parliament, said Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad.
He said if the matter is raised in the Dewan Rakyat, the minister-in-charge would be responsible for answering it.
"We can discuss this in Parliament. Government backbenchers can raise the issue, and opposition members can raise the issue as well."
He said this after his 2024 mandate speech at the Health Ministry here today.
Dr Dzulkefly also said the new scheme should not be seen as something negative or disadvantageous, as those who contributed to the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) might also receive substantial gains.
On Wednesday, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the government was introducing a new civil service hiring policy, which would include a new pension scheme.
He said new hires in the civil service would contribute to retirement schemes such as the EPF and the Social Security Organisation (Perkeso).
He also said the shift was a part of a broader initiative to phase out traditional pensions.
The idea, however, met with brickbats from The Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Services (Cuepacs), as well as political groups including Umno and MCA's Youth wings.
Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh had suggested that removing pensions should start with members of Parliament and state assemblymen.
He had said while everyone understood the financial burdens of the government, it was unjust to only remove pensions for people working in the public sector.
In response to Dr Akmal's statement, Dr Dzulkefly said: "I think the suggestion has its own merit. Everyone has the right to give suggestions."
When asked if the new pension scheme would affect the Health Ministry, he replied in the negative and said the attrition rate for medical officers had seen a reduction.
"If we compare from previous years, the attrition rate now has dropped. I think they are more comfortable with the current arrangement.
"From 2023 to this year, we have made over 6,300 permanent offers," he added.
