The government's decision to scrap the Public Service New Remuneration Scheme (SBPA) is not a failure in implementing a policy as alleged by the opposition, says Muhyiddin Yassin.

On the contrary, the deputy prime minister said, the abolition of the SBPA was made after a study showed that the scheme did not meet the pay rise and perk demands of the civil servants.

NONE"When we were about to present the SBPA, we had no knowledge of other things at early stages. And as we fine-tuned one by one, Cuepacs lamented that what was proposed (the SBPA) did not meet their demands.

"This (the SBPA) had yet to be implemented as we had just made an offer, so we decided to review it because we are responsive to the views of public officials," Muhyiddin told reporters after meeting religious teachers, mosque committee members and community leaders in Johol, Kuala Pilah, today.

The abolition of the SBPA and salary adjustments for civil servants, ranging from seven to 13 per cent, under the improved version of the Malaysian Remuneration Scheme (SSM) was announced by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak yesterday.

'Salary adjustments well received'

Muhyiddin said as the salary adjustments were well received by civil servants, it rattled the opposition, which was now worried of their waning influence in the civil service.

On education, Muhyiddin, who is also education minister, said the National Education Dialogue, which was in part a comprehensive study on the national education system, was expected to be completed in four or five months' time.

He said ideas generated from the discourse from all walks of life, races, professions and industries would be included in a report to be presented at the end of the year.

"We will not leave out any group in the discourse as we know there are some weaknesses in the past that can be improved. We promise to fix them and we will do even better," he said, adding that this was in line with the national transformation programme.

He said in the march towards a developed nation status, the country faced many challenges, including external factors like the global economic crisis, but was doing its best to resolve these in the interest of the people.

- Bernama

MCA regrets scrapping of new civil service pay scheme