mussafir مسافر

Assalamualaikum and hello.

Last March, I and 3 other teachers from my school were called to the District Education Office to receive our promotion letter from the DG41 grade into DG44. It was a time-based promotion and our promotions were backdated to 2006. Nothing much to shout about actually. Just an increase in salary and an advancement to a higher grade. 

Then, in the final week of April, the school’s clerk called me to the office. He showed me a letter and also some Kew. 8 forms, which are the usual forms needed to be filled to make the necessary adjustments for the salary increase. There were red marks all over the forms, made by one of the many clerks at JPN (State Education Office), which usually means that my school’s clerk have to make some corrections and resubmit the forms.

All was well until he pointed out that the clerk at JPN had marked that I was not eligible to have my Anjakan Gaji Kedua, a raise from the second tier or level to the third level of the salary matrix in DG41, be counted in the promotion to DG44. The reason being I am already in DG44 since my promotion was backdated to 2006 so the Anjakan Gaji Kedua in DG41 is not applicable. The other reason is the letter of promotion to DG44 is dated earlier (3 January 2008) than the approval letter for the Anjakan Gaji Kedua (15 February 2008).

I would have let it by if not for my school’s clerk who says that I am entitled to have the amount from the Anjakan Gaji Kedua be counted for balancing the salary increase in new grade. For example, now I am still receiving RM3115.15 per month, at level P2T15 in DG41. Due to the Anjakan Gaji Kedua, I should be receiving  RM3435.28 or P3T16 starting this July. However, according to JPN’s clerk, since I was promoted to DG44 since 2006, I will be getting RM3433.83 at P1T4 in DG44 instead.

That’s RM1.45 lower that what I should receive if  the Anjakan Gaji is counted. I know that it’s a small difference (tiny to some) but according to my clerk, based on his understanding of the Jabatan Perkhidmatan Awam’s circular, I should be given either at the same amount (RM3425.28) or the closest higher amount in the new grade, which is RM3584.11 (P1T5) at DG44. That’s a hike of RM150.28! i would also be one T higher than my peers.

There’s also the fact that I receive the Anjakan Gaji Kedua because I passed PTK at Level 2 in 2007. So I called the Ministry and talked to one Encik Zulkifli, an officer at the Human Resource Division. I gave him a detailed background of the problem and he agreed that my school’s clerk was right. He even pointed out the particular paragraph in the circular that actually deals with this particular issue. Armed with that knowledge, I went to see the JPN’s clerk myself.

First, he was adamant that I am not eligible. When I showed him the particular paragraph, he asked me to wait while he conferred with his superior. He later called me into the office of his officer. Inside, there were 5 others, and it looked like they have been called to discuss this issue. The officer in charge said right away that she cannot allow my Anjakan Gaji Kedua be counted as the base for my salary increase for the DG44 promotion. Not even when I showed her the paragraph.

She even said that she have the backing from another officer in Human Resource Division of the Ministry, who apparently was in a conference and was only able to sms. She also mentioned that I wasn’t the first case and if she had allowed my case to go through, she also have to allow the other teachers to have their salary increased. I told her that was a problem she created herself and had nothing to do with mine. She still refused to entertain my complaint so I had no other choice than to take this matter to Putrajaya myself.

Before I did, I called up JPA, the authority in this matter. I managed to talk to a Ketua Penolong Pengarah there. She listened as I gave her the detail of my problem. She asked me a few questions and later agreed that I should receive the amount my clerk had told me. I later called the officer in JPN and told her the detail of my conversation with the KPP. She refused to acknowledge the conversation and what infuriated me more was her refusal to call the KPP herself to discuss this issue.

So, to Putrajaya I went. I made an appointment to meet the KPP at JPA first so there I went, the morning of 10 June. Being the first time going to Putrajaya, I went a little earlier than my appointment at 10 am. I also brought along the missus for support. At 10 sharp I was in the office of the KPP but she had to go out for another business first. After 32 minutes of waiting, I was finally able to see her. She looked at my service record and immediately told me that I am not eligible to have the Anjakan Gaji Kedua as a civil servant can only have one Anjakan in any grade. Since I already got my Anjakan Gaji Pertama in 2005 so, there I cannot have the Anjakan Gaji Kedua.

I was crushed. I was devastated. Coming all the way to Putrajaya only to be told I may not have what I thought I deserved. Instead of going to the Ministry of Education, I decided to go back to my sister’s house. Still, there’s something dangling at the back of my mind. I decided to call En. Zul to thank him for his views and help. En. Zul, however, insisted that I meet him. So off to Putrajaya again I went, with little or no hope whatsoever.

Well, En. Zul kindly informed me that what the KPP at JPA had told me was misleading and I actually had earned the Anjakan Gaji Kedua in accordance to the PTK standard. He also looked further into the real issue between myself and JPN Kelantan. He concluded that I am entitled to a raise and the JPN people has misinformed his superior officer of the real issue. He also pointed out to me some mistakes in my civil service record and I need to address that with JPN also.

I left Putrajaya with a smile on my face and treated my family with outings around KL. Managed to get my kids have their picture taken with an Ultraman and even paid for my missus’s brand new handphone. I drove back to Kelantan a day later.

The next Monday I called En. Zul and he confirmed with his officer that I should get my raise and he is drafting the letter to be sent to JPN Kelantan. I thanked him from the bottom of my heart. A week later, the letter arrived for my copy, as well as a copy for my principal and my guess a copy for JPN as well. Will be heading down to JPN in the next few days with my head held high.

The moral of the story, stand up and fight for your right. Don’t let other people tell you otherwise unless can be proven in black and white.

Till the next update, ciao.

p/s: Just got a call from another teacher, who is in the same boat. He’ll be coming over to discuss his next move.

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