Civil Servants' RM1,500 Special Aid: Who Gets It and When
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced a special financial assistance of RM1,500 for 1.3 million civil servants in Grade Utama B and below, including contract appointees, when he tabled Budget 2027 on Oct. 9, Bernama reported. More than one million government retirees, including pensionable and non-pensionable veterans, get RM750.
The payments are made in two instalments, the first before Hari Raya Aidilfitri and the second in the lead-up to the 70th anniversary of Merdeka, Free Malaysia Today reported. No payment dates had been announced in the sources checked on Oct. 10.
Who gets what
| Group | Amount | Who |
|---|---|---|
| Civil servants | RM1,500 | 1.3 million in Grade Utama B and below, including contract appointees |
| Government retirees | RM750 | More than 1 million, including pensionable and non-pensionable veterans |
| Religious personnel | RM750 | 70,000 KAFA and takmir teachers, imams, bilals, tok siak, noja and marbut |
These come from paragraphs 191 to 194 and 180 of the Budget 2027 speech. The speech thanks 1.6 million civil servants in all, so the RM1,500 reaches 1.3 million of them. It does not say whether staff of statutory bodies or local councils are included, so check with your department's human resources unit.
When will the RM1,500 be paid?
- First instalment: before Hari Raya Aidilfitri in 2027.
- Second instalment: in the lead-up to the 70th anniversary of Merdeka, which falls on Aug. 31, 2027.
- The speech does not say how the RM1,500 or the RM750 is split between the two instalments, and no dates have been published. The Finance Ministry's summary of measures (in Malay) repeats that payment is made twice, before Aidilfitri and before Merdeka, and adds no dates. The Public Service Department (JPA) posts circulars for civil servants on its website.
- The Supply Bill 2027 still has to pass the Dewan Rakyat. Policy debates run from Oct. 12 to 22, ministers reply from Oct. 26 to 29 and the committee stage runs from Nov. 2 to 26, Bernama reports.
Other measures for civil servants and pensioners
- The minimum pension rises from RM1,000 to RM1,350 a month, benefiting nearly 59,000 pensioners, armed forces veterans and recipients of derivative pensions (para. 191).
- One-off promotions on a "Khas Untuk Penyandang" basis go to 12,000 management and professional officers who are waiting for promotion because posts are limited (para. 191, Bernama).
- Maternity leave over a civil servant's career rises from 360 to 490 days, which means up to 98 days for each childbirth, and RM20 million upgrades childcare centres at government facilities (para. 191).
- The one-off Ex-Gratia Waris Pukal rises from RM20,000 to a maximum of RM50,000 depending on length of service, effective Jan. 1, 2026 (para. 191).
- RM2.3 billion is allocated to build and maintain quarters for police officers, doctors, military personnel, teachers and firefighters (para. 191).
- Allowances for RELA, auxiliary firefighters, police volunteers and civil defence volunteers rise to RM9 an hour, and RM10.80 an hour for supervisors (para. 191).
- The monthly Post Basic Incentive Allowance for 47,000 paramedics and nurses doubles from RM100 to RM200 (para. 83).
- The government, through Tabung Haji, will cover SOCSO contributions for 40,000 imams, bilals, tok siak, noja, marbut and takmir teachers (para. 180).
Is there a pay rise?
The speech text announces one-off payments, promotions and allowances, but no new across-the-board pay rise for civil servants. It mentions the earlier salary increases only as past steps (para. 32).
For all Budget 2027 measures, see our Budget 2027 summary.
Figures are from the Budget 2027 speech and the reports linked above, as of Oct. 10, 2026. Payment dates and rules have not been published, and this page will be updated.
