Customs DG: Officers’ interstate transfers done by the book

 

Customs director-general Anis Rizana Zainudin says that the interstate transfers of customs officers are carried out per the department’s guidelines.

This comes after a customs officer’s union claimed that some officers have been involuntarily transferred to other states, following Anis’ appointment to the position on Sept 25.

However, Anis (above) said the transfer directives are in line with the department’s policy Permanent Appointment Order No 78 dated Aug 10 - a month before her appointment.

She added that they are also in line with the appointment methods for civil service and other matters related to appointments under Section UP.2.2.1 (Employee Transfer Guide) issued by the Public Service Department and the National Anti-Corruption Plan 2019–2023 (Half-Term Review).

“These transfers can help enrich and expand job roles for officers and can contribute towards increasing and diversifying experiences, exposure, and learning processes among the involved officers, and improving their productivity.

“It also allows officers to view the organisation in which they are placed from a different perspective, thereby enabling them to try new approaches that can enhance organisational effectiveness; and prevent any possibility of misconduct, abuse of power, and corruption,” she said in a statement today.

Anis added that the Customs Department allows for the suspension of temporary placements according to requests, and to date, some transfers have been suspended for reasons related to family, health, and children’s education.

‘No appeals allowed’

Earlier today, Kesatuan Pegawai Kastam Semenanjung Malaysia (KPKSM) president Abdul Malik Zin claimed that hundreds of officers were involuntarily transferred interstate.

He alleged that the transfers were made without considering the welfare of the officers and that no appeals were allowed.

Harian Metro reported Abdul Malik claiming that Anis was attempting to divide KPKSM by transferring him from Perak to Lawas, Sarawak.

“The director-general gave verbal instructions to the Perak Customs director, which is my state, to take disciplinary action related to integrity-related offences.

“When no action was taken as there was no wrongdoing, a transfer order was issued on Dec 11 to transfer KPKSM from Perak to Lawas, effective Jan 2, 2024 - on the grounds that I had been serving here for too long.

“This is an effort to divide the KPKSM. We also see it as a manipulation of power,” he was quoted as saying. - Mkini