THE Public Service Department (JPA) is in the final stages of a study aimed at introducing flexible work-from-home (WFH) options for civil servants who require such arrangements.
Director-General of Public Service, Tan Sri Wan Ahmad Dahlan Abdul Aziz, said the review includes a comprehensive assessment of the types of flexibility that may be granted and how such policies could be implemented.
“We at JPA always listen to the concerns of civil servants… we cannot afford to be complacent with the status quo, but must be dynamic and continuously explore ways to provide them with better comfort,” he said following the Bicara Figura: Menelusuri Aspirasi Memaknai Reformasi programme held at the Sultan Ahmad Shah Auditorium, RISDA Headquarters.
“That is why we are now at the final stage of our study on workplace flexibility—it does not necessarily have to mean working from the office as it is now.
“This may be assessed based on the needs of the civil servant—for instance, pregnant women may have a justifiable need not to be present in the office,” he added.
He explained that the study also considers the outdated nature of Malaysia’s existing work culture in contrast to more advanced countries, underlining the need for structural change within the public sector.
Wan Ahmad Dahlan stressed the importance of the department playing a proactive role in supporting public officers who genuinely require the option to work from home.
Commenting on the work-from-home policy in conjunction with the upcoming ASEAN Summit later this month, he said certain applications for remote work had already been approved through requests submitted to respective department heads.
The policy is outlined under the Human Resource Service Circular (MyPPSM), specifically Section SR.4.1.2, which aims to strike a balance between organisational needs and the well-being of officers, including fostering harmony between work and personal life. - May 15, 2025
