Absenteeism among the main reason for disciplinary action towards civil servants

PUTRAJAYA - Absenteeism or failure to attend to duties is among the main factors for disciplinary action to be taken towards civil servants

The disciplinary action taken includes suspending them from work.

Public Services Commission (PSC) chairman Tan Sri Zainal Rahim Seman said last year a total of 14 civil servants were suspended while 28 were suspended from work.

“Some failed to attend for days, some for months and in some cases some went for annual leave without notice,” he said at the PSC ceremony with media here on Monday.

He said the matter should not occur as civil servants were provided with the proper procedures to follow

“Please be reminded that disciplinary action would be taken against those who fail to adhere to the proper procedures and rules

"We will usually take action once the the disciplinary cases are brought up by the department chief or the disciplinary board of each ministry.

“The lowest punishment would usually be a warning followed by demotion or being sacked for an offence.

“If found guilty, they usually will be let go ,” he said.

Other than suspension a total of 51 civil servants faced various disciplinary actions last year.

498 disciplinary appeal cases were recorded in the same year.

Zainal said each civil servant application would go through a police security screening process.

“In addition, screening with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) would be carried out to ensure genuinely clean candidates pass the interview,” he said.

Statistics show a decrease for disciplinary cases for three consecutive years with 117 individuals facing it in 2020 and 83 individuals the following year.

However, the suspension cases increased with nine cases in 2020, 2021 (10) and 2022 (14).

Zainal was commenting on MACC’s recent reveal of the neglect of 500 misconduct complaints and the department's views that it should be given to the Public Service Department (PSD) for further action.

He said the PSD had established a special committee that monitors the Auditor-General’s Report (LKAN).

MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki previously revealed that several government agencies abandoned 500 misconduct reports by their staff despite being assured that actions were being taken.