Retirement age not decided yet, clarifies PM

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has clarified that he had told Cuepacs that he would consider positively its request to increase civil servants' retirement age to either 58 or 60.
He said he had yet to decide on the request.
However, he said the umbrella body for civil servants' unions had issued "confusing statements" including on the retirement age.
"The issue which we discussed was raising the retirement age to either 58 or 60 years. I had said I would look into the proposal by taking a positive attitude in deciding on it.
"I had said I would make an announcement on the retirement age during a meeting with Cuepacs in May.
"That is when I will make an announcement. I did not say 60 years. The issue was (raising to) 58 or 60 years but in the newspapers it was stated as 60 years," he told reporters Saturday after launching the Barisan Nasional MPs retreat at Hotel Istana here.
On Thursday after meeting with the Prime Minister, Cuepacs president Omar Osman said the Government had agreed to five of six demands it had put forward including extending the retirement age from 56 years to 60.
Abdullah was also asked to comment on the report that the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) had submitted a proposal to him proposing that it becomes an independent body and follow the operating style of the Hong Kong Independent Commission Against Corruption.
Abdullah confirmed that he had just received the proposal and was studying it. "I am looking at it and will make a decision as soon as possible," he said.

tunku : after 2 days then only you want to clarify.may be still flying high after the standing ovation thing.i thought they said you had agreed to the five demands out of six.anyway the retirement age should be 60 and not 58.as i had said earlier 60 would be the minimum age to retire.