Alert me if you're given minutes that violate the law, PM Anwar tells civil servants

PUTRAJAYA: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim wants civil servants to alert him if they are given minutes that violate the law, even if the minutes came from him.

He wants to be informed so that no wrongdoings are committed as he has pledged to run the country transparently.

"This is a clear directive from me. If there are minutes that violates laws and regulations, I must be informed. Even if it comes from me.

"More so if it comes from my officers, the deputy prime ministers or other ministers," he said at the Prime Minister's Department monthly gathering on Monday (Jan 16).

Anwar said he was aware that officers were reluctant to speak out if they came across certain problems or issues as they feared being transferred.

"But my directive is clear. I must be informed.

"At the onset of my administration, I have, among others, directed my Cabinet to appoint administrative and diplomatic (PTD) officers to hold the post of senior private secretary," he added.

The Prime Minister said this was because such officers are clear on government procedures and rules.

A senior private secretary is the chief of staff in a minister's office.

Present at the gathering were Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Sabah and Sarawak) Datuk Armizan Ali and Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali.