Guideline needed for civil servants to report misconduct - Cuepacs

 

The government needs to provide clear guidelines or a system for civil servants to report misconduct in the administration.

Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Services (Cuepacs) president Adnan Mat said it is to protect civil servants who reported the misconduct from facing backlash.

“That’s why it’s important to have clear guidelines or a system by the government to enable civil servants to be involved in combating misconduct, especially involving the highest government officials and ministers.

“The government needs to ensure the confidentiality of the complainants as well as the authenticity of the complaints,” he said in a statement today.

Yesterday, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said civil servants should criticise actions by the government if they violate the law.

Adnan (above) said it would not be well received by civil servants if there were no clear guidelines on the complaint system.

He said this is especially regarding the confidentiality of the complainant, the period of investigation, the type of complaint, and the transparency of the investigation.

He said under existing circulars and policies, it is very difficult for civil servants to give constructive criticism to their departments or agencies.

“If you want to report a minister, it is certainly more difficult, because the civil servant himself may receive certain pressure not only from department heads but also the ministers’ officers,” he said.

There were cases where civil servants were not promoted, were transferred, or had their work schedules disrupted after reporting wrongdoings in government departments and agencies, he said.

Because of this, many civil servants today are afraid to make a report, he added.

- Bernama