FAQs on Malaysia's 17 Jan special financial aid for eligible public service officers

Eligible civil servants will be paid RM700, while eligible government retirees will receive RM350. Find out more about the payment disbursement here.

Selected groups of public service officers and government retirees can look forward to receiving special financial assistance (bantuan khas kewangan, or BKK) on 17 January this year. 

According to the latest circular by the Public Service Department (Jabatan Perkhidmatan Awam, or JPA), released on 27 December 2022, eligible public service officers will be paid RM700, while eligible government retirees will receive RM350.

In line with this, the department has shared a series of frequently asked questions for those looking to find out more about the payments.

Public service officers (or civil servants)

Who are civil servants eligible to be paid Special Financial Assistance (BKK) in 2023?

BKK Year 2023 will be paid to federal public service officers in Grade 56 and below, provided that the officer is still serving on 17 January 2023. This consists of public service officers of the management and professional group and the implementation group who are permanent, temporary and contract appointed officers of service, officers on full-paid leave, officers on half-paid leave, officers on leave without pay, and officers on loan including to agencies whose compensation management is separated.

The grant of BKK Year 2023 is also extended to interim teachers, drivers self-appointed by officers of Main Position Grade B and above, as well as Special Grade A and above who are qualified drivers but are not provided with a driver by their department, and drivers self-appointed by administrative members and judges and the judicial commissioner. BKK Year 2023 is also extended to MySTEP-appointed officers on the condition that they have served for at least six months in 2022 and are still serving as a MySTEP personnel on 17 January 2023. 

Are officers appointed on 9 January 2023 eligible to receive BKK Year 2023?

Officials who have been appointed permanently and are still serving on 17 January 2023 are eligible to receive the payment.

Is a Contract of Service (COS) officer eligible for BKK Year 2023 if their contract date starts from 3 January 2023?

COS officers who are still serving on 17 January 2023 are eligible to receive BKK Year 2023.

Is a COS officer eligible for BKK Year 2023 if he served from 14 October 2022 to 13 January 2023 and no longer serves after the end date of the contract?

These officers are not eligible because they are no longer in service on 17 January 2023, which is the date of payment.

Is a COS officer appointed from 1 April  2022 to 31 March 2023 eligible for BKK Year 2023?

Officers are eligible to receive BKK 2023 provided they are still in service on 17 January 2023.

Is a MySTEP personnel whose contract is in effect from 1 February 2022 to 30 November 2022, and then has been reappointed with effect from 4 January 2023 until 30 June 2023 eligible to receive BKK Year 2023?

MySTEP personnel are eligible. The main principle is that the period of service in 2022 is at least six months and the individual is still serving as a MySTEP Personnel on 17 January 2023.

A MySTEP Personnel whose contract is effective from 4 January 2022 to 28 February 2022 in Ministry A, and was then reappointed effective 1 April 2022 until 31 May 2022 in Ministry B. This MySTEP Personnel was then reappointed effective 1 November 2022 until 31 December 2022 in Ministry C. He was then reappointed with effect from 17 January 2023 until 30 June 2023. Is he eligible to receive the BKK Year 2023?

MySTEP personnel are eligible. The main principle is that the period of service in 2022 is at least six months and the individual is still serving as a MySTEP Personnel on 17 January 2023.

Are MySTEP Personnel who are reappointed in different ministries/departments, and whose contract period is not interrupted, eligible to be given BKK Year 2023?

MySTEP personnel are eligible. The main principle is that the period of service in 2022 is at least six months and the individual is still serving as a MySTEP Personnel on 17 January 2023.

Are daily part-time workers appointed under the State Secretary's Administration eligible to receive BKK Year 2023?

Subject to the adoption by the respective authorities as stipulated by paragraph 4 of Circular no. reference JPA.800-3/2/4(17) dated 27 December 2022.

Are federal public service officers appointed to other service schemes in the federal public service eligible to be given BKK Year 2023?

Officers are eligible to be given BKK Year 2023 even though it involves two different service schemes, and will be paid by the department in which the officer serves.

Are officers who were given a warning sentence on 10 January 2023 by the Disciplinary Authority of the Ministry/Department eligible to receive the BKK 2023?

Officers are eligible to receive the payment because a warning sentence does not include a disqualifying sentence.

Are officers who have been sentenced to disciplinary punishment in November 2022, with the execution of the punishment extended beyond the period of 1 January 2023, eligible to be paid BKK Year 2023?

The officer is eligible to be paid BKK Year 2023 because the sentence was not handed down in the period of 1 January to 17 January 2023.

Are officers who have not been showing up for duty, and disciplinary action has not yet been taken, eligible to receive BKK Year 2023?

The officer in question is eligible to receive the BKK Year 2023 since the disciplinary proceedings have not yet started.

Are officers who have been subject to a disciplinary downgrade on 15 December 2022, and the punishment came into effect on 1 January 2023, eligible?

The officer is eligible to receive BKK Year 2023 because the sentence was not handed down during the period of 1 January to 17 January 2023.

Are officers who have been sentenced to a disciplinary warning on 9 January 2023 eligible to be paid BKK Year 2023?

The officer is eligible to be paid BKK Year 2023 because the punishment imposed is not dismissal or demotion.

Are officers who died on 17 January 2023 eligible to receive BKK Year 2023?

Officers are eligible to receive BKK Year 2023 of RM700 and will be paid by the officer's last department.

Are officers seconded to agencies whose compensation management is separated or international bodies or private companies during the period of 1 January to 17 January 2023 eligible?

Officers are eligible and will be paid by the agency that accepts the loan of the officer (borrowing agency).

Are federal public service officers who resign/stop/terminate their service in the public interest during the period of 1 January 2023 to 17 January 2023 eligible?

Officers are not eligible to receive BKK Year 2023 because officers are no longer in service.

Government pensioners

Who are the retirees eligible to be paid BKK in 2023?

Government pensioners who receive pensions under the pension law/Regulations of the Permanent Forces (Pensions, Emoluments and Other Benefits) Regulations 1982 who retire on or before 17 January 2023 for all grades in:

1. Federal civil service (including the Royal Malaysian Police) and State;
2. Services of Statutory Authorities (Federal and State) and Local Authorities;
3. Malaysian Armed Forces Service, and
4. Employees' Provident Fund Scheme (EPF) retirees who retire according to the retirement age option only (55 years, 56 years, 58 years, or 60 years).

Who are the pension recipients eligible to be paid BKK in 2023?

Eligible pension recipients are recipients of service pensions, disability pensions, issued pensions and dependents' pensions, dependents' pensions, dependents' allowances, retired allowances, and issued retired allowances until 17 January 2023.

Are issued pension recipients eligible to be paid BKK in 2023?

Issued pension recipients are eligible to be paid BKK Year 2023.

Is more than one issued pension recipient also eligible?

Yes, they are eligible and will be paid based on equal distribution according to the pensioner's account.

Are officers who retire after 17 January 2023 eligible?

Yes, they are eligible to be paid at the civil servant rate of RM700.

Are retirees/pension recipients who are not residents of Malaysia eligible?

Retirees/pension recipients who are not residents of Malaysia are eligible to receive BKK Year 2023.

Who are the retirees/issued pension recipients who are not eligible to receive BKK Year 2023?

Retirees/recipients of issued pensions who are not eligible are:

1. Individuals who have served as a Member of Parliament or Member of Administration;
2. Individuals who have served as a Political Secretary;
3. Individuals who have served as a Judge;
4. Pensioners of the Widow and Orphan Pension Scheme (Peninsula, Sabah, and Sarawak);
5. Recipients of Work Disaster Ex-Gratia payments under 1PP: WP6.3 - Public Money Management;
6. Recipients of pensions issued under the pension law/Regulations of the Standing Forces (Pensions, Emoluments and Other Benefits) Regulations 1982 due to the death of an officer in service after 17 January 2023, and
7. Pensioned officers who give up their pension rights for joining the Statutory Body Separated Salary (BBDS).

Are retired and non-pensioned retirees/veterans who are reappointed as COS and still serving on 17 January 2023 eligible?

Retirees who are reappointed as COS and still serving on 17 January 2023 are eligible to be paid RM700.00. However, the payment of RM350 will be made by the Public Service Department (JPA)/Veterans Affairs Department (JHEV) and the remaining RM350 will be paid by the department in which the officer is serving.

Lead image / JPA