Wannabe Uni Academic

We were given the SBPA forms late last year (2011). We had to sign Yes/No before 3 January 2012. I signed mine and turned the forms in before 31 Dec 2011. I also opted for age 60 for full retirement and VSS in case I did not perform or meet the expected KPI.

My husband said there is no such thing as kena buang kerja, and that it is not as simple as stop work pronto. He said the process of firing a Govt-hired person is long-winded and takes 3 months from the first notice. I felt reassured.

On 8 March 2012, PM Najib said SBPA dimansuhkan. I didn't listen to the news as I was not interested in any news that touched on gaji kakitangan kerajaan. Fine, no SBPA, only an improved SSM.

For a C-class newly appointed professor (Gred Khas C, VK7), she earns RM9,072 per month in salary before SPBA became an option.

With SBPA, a newly appointed professor would possibly earn RM14K per month. Without SBPA, she would expect RM10K per month, with an improved SSM. If no SBPA is implemented, she is missing RM3K per month in salary. Rugi ke tak rugi?

Apa ni? Sekejap cakap ada, sekejap cakap tak de!

Who feels being cheated? I do but my husband says it is better that gaji tak naik because even with just the mere mention of SBPA, lecturers became snobs (angkuh). If SBPA had gone ahead and was implemented, food prices would sky-rocket, and there is no value gained with SBPA without a price control on other things.

Betul pun. If we want to earn more, then the food prices must be controlled. The utility services must be controlled. The income tax must be controlled, so there is net gain or earnings for a Govt-hired worker.

Government servants are not allowed to work at 2 jobs, so the only way to control income and earnings is to control spending and prices of food and services. Even with this ruling, Govt servants are doing part-time jobs to make ends meet and to enjoy life somewhat.

We must not forget that humans will find every opportunity to make money and nobody can put a stop to that. Siapa kata Melayu malas?

Nowadays, even a porter or Pembantu Am Rendah (PAR) has a double-storey bungalow, a car, a family, a garden and 2 incomes. All his kids have tuition paid for by the father who works 2 jobs. Halal or not?

Nowadays, the rich lecturers have companies but not necessarily in their names but their sibs, spouses or relatives. Money comes and money is distributed. We see people becoming richer and having better homes and becoming globe-trotters. Did we stop to think where the money came from?

A govt-hired lecturer only has things for himself/herself without much extras - just a spouse, a family, 1-2 cars, a few cats, no maids, some monthly bills to pay, no monthly holidays overseas, maybe one Umrah every 2-5 years, etc. Nothing great being an ordinary lecturer with a single govt pay.

But if he/she does an extra siphoning job, then he/she can afford a luxury apartment in an exclusive neighbourhood and live a rich lifestyle. There is a big difference between the choices people make and what they become.

Hendak seribu daya, tok seh seribu daleh.