KUALA LUMPUR, August 6 - Civil servants need to provide much better service in line with the salary increase through the Public Service Compensation System (SSPA) which will be announced soon.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said, it will be roughly announced this month, apart from informing that the decision to increase the salaries of public servants was made after considering several important factors, including the fact that there has been no comprehensive salary review for the past 12 years.

"Although there are dissenting voices that never understand gratitude and never accept reality, believe me, I will announce it later, partly in August and fully as I promised in October in the national Budget. And it will be implemented starting December 1.

"...which is the highest salary increase in the country's history since independence, for two reasons. First, the country is developing but, for 12 years there has been no comprehensive study of salary increases, secondly to recognise their (civil servants) role all this time," he said.

He said this while speaking at the launch of the Malaysia MADANI Civil Servants' Housing programme in Bandar Sri Permaisuri in the capital.

The launch ceremony was also attended by Minister of Housing and Local Government Nga Kor Ming, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Dr Zaliha Mustafa, Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali, Public Service director-general Datuk Seri Wan Ahmad Dahlan Abdul Aziz and MP for Bandar Tun Razak Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.

The mechanism for adjusting civil servants' salaries will be announced by Anwar during the 19th Majlis Amanat Perdana Perkhidmatan Awam (MAPPA) on August 16 at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre.

Meanwhile, Anwar also wants civil servants to work together with the government in developing the country.