Public sector to begin work-from-home arrangements starting April 15
PETALING JAYA: Work-from-home (WFH) arrangements for the public sector will begin on April 15 as part of early measures to shield Malaysians from the deepening global energy crisis, the Prime Minister announced.
Saying this was a broader effort to rationalise fuel use without disrupting essential services, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the move will involve the various ministries, government agencies, statutory bodies and also apply to GLCs.
“Details will follow. This is to reduce fuel consumption and ensure the sustainability of our energy supply,” he said in a special TV address last night.
Anwar said the ongoing conflict in the Middle East had disrupted global supply chains and drove up energy prices worldwide, cautioning that the impact would not be shortlived.
“The situation will worsen before it can be restored, and it will take a much longer time,” he said, adding that it was no longer business as usual for Malaysia or the rest of the world.
Anwar said the government had moved early to cushion the impact of the energy crunch through the Inisiatif Sokongan Rakyat, including targeted subsidies and assistance to those most affected.
He said Malaysia had so far been able to maintain the ceiling price of RON95 petrol at RM1.99 per litre, even as some neighbouring countries were already seeing queues and rationing at petrol stations.
“It is something we must be grateful for, but it does not mean we can be complacent,” he pointed out.
Anwar said with this is mind, the government had decided to scale down on this year’s Hari Raya celebration by tightening expenditure and pruning major events.
He also confirmed that the Budi95 programme would continue, with the monthly quota reduced to 200 litres per person.
The Prime Minister said the government was stepping up efforts to diversify the country’s energy sources to ensure a stable and secure supply.
“We are actively diversifying our energy sources to guarantee the nation’s supply,” he said, adding that national oil company PETRONAS had assured the government that it could maintain adequate oil and gas supplies at least until May.
He said PETRONAS’ management of the country’s resources had put Malaysia in a relatively stronger position to face the crisis.
Anwar also gave a stern warning to those who created and spread false information about fuel and electricity prices, particularly when many Malaysians were already under pressure.
“People are struggling and the nation is under strain... yet what they continue to do is an act of treachery against the country and its people by spreading false stories, gambling with livelihoods merely to gain cheap political advantage,” he said.
He said the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission had detected 96 fake posts related to fuel and electricity on social media, adding that firm action would be taken together with the police.
“Spreading fake news during a crisis is an act of betrayal against the nation,” he said, urging the public to be cautious, to verify information and to rely on official and credible sources.
Anwar also called on all Malaysians, especially those who were better off and in positions of influence, to show empathy and restraint.
“Do not be arrogant, do not be wasteful and do not behave as if this is a normal situation,” he said, warning that ostentatious displays of wealth while farmers, fishermen and workers were still struggling would only deepen public resentment.
