PETALING JAYA: The days of stiff collars and mandatory neckties in government offices have come to an end, and civil servants are more than happy to loosen up.
The Public Service Department’s (JPA) decision to drop the compulsory necktie rule has been met with widespread approval, with the Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Services (Cuepacs) hailing the move as a reflection of the government’s flexibility and awareness of the comfort and needs of public servants working in diverse environments.
“This policy could help motivate civil servants to provide better services to the public in a more relaxed and comfortable manner,” said Cuepacs president Datuk Dr Adnan Mat yesterday.
He added that while neckties are no longer mandatory except for certain situations or formal events, civil servants who wish to continue wearing them should be free to do so as a mark of professionalism and discipline.
“They should have the freedom to choose their appearance as long as it adheres to JPA’s dress code,” he said.
On Friday, JPA director-general Tan Sri Wan Ahmad Dahlan Abdul Aziz announced through a circular that neckties are no longer required for civil servants at work, except during specific programmes or ceremonies.
The tie-free announcement has since been lauded on social media with netizens overwhelmingly supporting the decision.
Many even called for the same flexibility to be extended to school students.
