A healthy lifestyle is always a good thing to strive for, and one of the best indicators of that is a fit body.
However, some concerns have cropped up recently over claims that the Public Service Department (JPA) is making it mandatory for all civil servants to maintain a healthy body mass index (BMI).
Is this claim true?
VERDICT:
FALSE
According to Bernama, the JPA denied having issued any statement or directive that mandates a certain BMI for civil servants.
This comes in response to a statement made by Miri Hospital director Dr Jack Wong on Dec 7, which claimed that the JPA will make it compulsory for public officials to have a healthy BMI starting from 2025.
The JPA clarified that all staff are encouraged to carry out regular self-health screenings, including height and weight checks, as part of its commitment to addressing obesity amongst civil servants.
"However, the JPA has never released any instructions requiring civil servants to maintain a balanced BMI," read the statement.
According to the JPA, its commitments are also in line with a health circular issued on Sept 6, 2022, aimed at improving public health.
The JPA further stressed that all statements involving the department, or using its name, require prior approval. The public is urged to always verify such statements against official sources.
