MELAKA: Federal and state department heads (HODs) have been urged to pay close attention to the financial health of their subordinates to prevent excessive indebtedness among civil servants.
Public Service director-general Tan Sri Wan Ahmad Dahlan Abdul Aziz said the reminder was necessary to avoid situations where officers accumulate debts beyond their repayment capacity.
"All HODs must take this issue seriously. We do not want civil servants burdened by large debts to the point that it affects their work focus and leads to serious financial distress."
He said this to reporters after the opening of the KPPA-meets-Melaka civil servants programme at Melaka International Trade Centre (MITC) in Ayer Keroh, here on Thursday (Nov 6). Also present was State Secretary Datuk Azhar Arshad.
Wan Ahmad Dahlan’s remarks followed recent reports of arrests, including bank officers, under Ops Sky, an investigation by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) into corruption and money laundering involving a financial consultancy syndicate.
The syndicate allegedly offered financial advisory services to civil servants via social media and roadshows at several government agencies and ministries.
Wan Ahmad Dahlan added that the government already has clear regulations governing civil servants' borrowing practices and that these must be strictly observed.
"As for the Ops Sky cases, they have been handed over to the relevant authorities since the matter was brought to the courts," he said. - Bernama
