PUTRAJAYA, May 25 — The work-from-home (WFH) initiative has helped the government save RM4.22 million in RON95 subsidies, equivalent to 2.14 million litres, said Chief Secretary to the Government (KSN) Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar.
In delivering his address and officiating the Encouraging, Responsibility, Accountability, Trustworthiness (ERAT) Appreciation Ceremony here tonight, Shamsul Azri said the figure is the latest from April 15 to today.
“It should be reiterated once again that WFH does not mean ‘lying down sitting resting’. It is aimed at controlling petrol consumption, which is why the government approved WFH on April 15.
“Although subsidy pressures have increased sharply, the government will ensure services to the people are not affected,” he said.
On April 30, the media reported that the government had successfully saved RM1.9 million in RON95 subsidies, equivalent to 979,632 litres, within 10 days of its WFH policy start date, involving 200,000 civil servants.
To ensure WFH is implemented effectively without affecting service delivery, he urged every head of department to uphold TEGAS, which stands for swift action, empathy, clear ideas, adaptability, and effective strategies.
“I would like to remind all heads of department to practise this TEGAS concept as we face the current crisis,” he said.
In addition, he called on all civil servants to reflect on the values of “MALAYSIA” — friendly, fair, noble, trustworthy, confident, loyal, reformative and wise — when serving the people.
“Do not differentiate treatment based on position. When dignitaries visit, we smile brightly, but when a cleaner comes, do we treat them the same way we treat dignitaries?” he said.
He stressed that civil servants must understand that the responsibilities they carry are to be fulfilled to the best of their ability, not something to boast about.
Earlier, Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC) chairman Tan Sri Ismail Bakar said being a head of department is not an easy responsibility as it comes with a heavy burden, and any wrongdoing overlooked would not only affect the department, but tarnish the credibility of the enforcement agency.
According to him, heads of department are important and they must always prioritise integrity in performing their duties, while ensuring justice is upheld.
