KSN, KPPA REVIEWING WFH PROPOSAL FOR PUBLIC SECTOR - FAHMI

KUALA LUMPUR, March 13 (Bernama) -- The Chief Secretary to the Government (KSN) Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar and Public Service director-general (KPPA) Tan Sri Wan Ahmad Dahlan Abdul Aziz will review the proposal to implement work-from-home (WFH) arrangements for the public sector.

Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil, who is also the MADANI Government spokesperson, said the outcome of the discussions will be decided at the Cabinet meeting next Tuesday.

“The Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim) has asked the KSN and KPPA to review the WFH proposal to ensure several aspects are properly aligned for the public sector,” he told a press conference in Putrajaya today after a special Cabinet meeting on the impact of the West Asia conflict.

Also present were Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan and Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu.

Yesterday, Wan Ahmad Dahlan said that the implementation of flexible working arrangements, including WFH, is viewed as an important measure to ensure the continuity of government operations in an increasingly uncertain world shaped by geopolitical conflicts, disasters and public health crises.

Several ASEAN countries, including Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines, have announced precautionary measures such as WFH arrangements as part of government efforts to mitigate the impact of the conflict in West Asia.

The measures also include encouraging the use of electric and hybrid vehicles to manage fuel demand amid concerns over potential energy supply disruptions.

Meanwhile, Fahmi said the Prime Minister has also instructed all ministries to hold engagement sessions with industry players under their respective portfolios to obtain feedback on the impact of the conflict.

Similarly, he said, the outcome of discussions from these sessions will be presented at the Cabinet meeting next Tuesday.

“Industry representatives will also be invited to make presentations on behalf of their sectors at the upcoming National Economic Action Council meeting,” he said.

The conflict in West Asia began on Feb 28 when the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran, which later retaliated with missile and drone strikes targeting US interests and its allies in the region.

The tensions have also affected global energy markets as the strategic Strait of Hormuz, which handles about 20 per cent of the world’s oil supply, has been disrupted following threats and actions by Iran to block shipping routes in the area.

The situation has led to volatility in global oil prices amid concerns over potential disruptions to global energy supplies.

-- BERNAMA