[UPDATED] Shafiq Abdullah to take legal action following removal as Public Service DG 

KUALA LUMPUR – Freshly terminated Public Service director-general Datuk Seri Mohd Shafiq Abdullah will be initiating legal action over his removal from the post, claiming that Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali had prevented him from doing his job.

In a statement today, Shafiq said he is “disappointed and dissatisfied” with the government’s decision to terminate him and will be seeking legal recourse against those who have “slandered” him despite his decade of contribution to the sector.

“Ever since I became the Public Service director-general, there have been efforts to block me from acting efficiently and promptly.”  He also said that he had only received the letter informing him of his termination yesterday, despite the document being dated December 1. 

“This was demonstrated when a few important board meetings (regarding) promotions (for Public Service officers) were postponed by (Zuki) within his capacity as the meeting chairman,” Syafiq asserted. 

He added that delays in holding such meetings caused many vital posts in public sectors – especially at the highest ministerial or agency level – to be left unoccupied for extended periods. 

“Some public officers with vested interest in civil services and outside parties had also been uneasy with my attempts to improve the quality of public services while reducing bureaucracy,” he said. 

“Unrelenting efforts to discredit my image and reputation through social media postings culminated in my termination (from the Public Service) yesterday.

“I have never threatened the public’s interest through any of my actions while I was in office. 

“I have conducted my responsibilities daily and strictly,” he added.

Earlier today, Zuki Ali confirmed that Shafiq was removed from his post effective yesterday, stating that the enforced retirement was decided in the public’s interest and had gone through the Attorney-General’s Chambers. 

Shafiq had courted controversy earlier in August when the Immigration Services Union of Peninsular Malaysia demanded an open apology from him over his alleged outburst against an immigration officer at an airport counter. 

Union president Khairil Niza Khairuddin claimed that the incident saw the KLIA Immigration head of operations being harshly scolded by Shafiq in the presence of members of the public.  

The Public Services Department subsequently called out immigration authorities over the union’s statement, stating that all allegations against Shafiq are “baseless, ill-intended, and malicious” with a view to damage Shafiq’s reputation as a high-ranking government official. – The Vibes, December 13, 2022