Former Treasury Secretary General Tan Sri Sheriff Mohd Kassim at a recent forum called for the civil service to be downsized. This suggestion has been shot down by The Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Services or Cuepacs. Last year, public servants pay totalled RM74 billion with pensions amounting to about RM19 billion. Collectively, these payments formed the biggest portion of government’s operating expenditure.

So in the face of the rising cost of living, and a challenging economic climate, naturally, burgeoning remuneration and pensions are easy targets. We’re asking you if you think that’s fair? Do you think we have a bloated civil service?