Malaysia Treasury outlines ex-gratia payments for civil servants' families

A Treasury circular has detailed the ex-gratia payments available to the families of federal civil servants who die in work-related disasters. Under the “Ex-Gratia Work Disaster Scheme for Federal Public Service Officers,” which took effect on January 1, 2025, eligible next-of-kin may receive a lump-sum payment of RM20,000.

Additionally, a monthly ex-gratia payment may be provided to a widow or widower for life, as well as to unmarried children until they reach age 21, marry, or complete their first degree. If the deceased officer was single and had no children, their parents are eligible for the monthly payment for life.

The scheme excludes contract or temporary officers who began service after June 1, 2016, as well as those covered by the Social Security Organisation’s (Socso) Employment Injury Scheme.

The announcement follows the Long Lellang helicopter crash in Sarawak, which killed four Ministry of Health staff members and a pilot. Socso confirmed that the next-of-kin of the pilot and one medical officer are eligible for funeral and dependent benefits under its own Employment Injury Scheme.