KUALA LUMPUR – Lawmakers in the Dewan Rakyat have urged Deputy Speaker Datuk Mohd Rashid Hasnon to let the relevant minister provide answers to allegations that Public Services Department (PSD) director-general Datuk Seri Mohd Shafiq Abdullah had unduly humiliated an immigration officer at an airport counter yesterday.
Citing Standing Order 14(1)(i), Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub (Pulai-PH) said it is imperative that the minister from the Prime Minister’s Department, who is responsible over this issue, provides an explanation as it involves the professional image of the PSD.
“Parliament should be given an explanation, as the matter has gone viral on social media and mainstream media,” he said.
“There was an explanation by the PSD and even a reply from the Immigration Department union.
“I think a minister from the Prime Minister’s Department must come forward and clarify the matter, as it involves the DG of the PSD.
“An explanation must be given so that there would not be any misinformation or miscommunication, as the good name of the civil service must be safeguarded,” he said.
Khalid Samad (Shah Alam-PH) weighed in, saying that an explanation is necessary as the matter has become a national embarrassment.
“There is already a statement denying the incident that was issued by the PSD, but it was unsigned.
“So it is important for the minister to explain the matter, as it is embarrassing. There should be some sense of decorum and discipline,” he said.
Last night, the Immigration Services Union of Peninsular Malaysia demanded an open apology from Shafiq over the latter’s alleged harsh outburst against an immigration officer at a counter in Kuala Lumpur International Airport yesterday morning.
Union president Khairil Niza Khairuddin had said the union was “baffled” by the incident, which has tainted the reputation of the country’s public service.
The PSD then issued a statement earlier today, calling out the immigration authorities over the various statements issued by its union and related association via social media on allegations levelled against Shafiq.
Calling for the Immigration Department to fully investigate the incident, the PSD also expressed its regret over what it described as “false statements” issued across social media platforms by irresponsible parties.
Sabah, Sarawak not ‘trash bin’ for ill-disciplined police officers
Similarly, several lawmakers from Sabah and Sarawak stood up to cite the same standing order, urging Rashid to allow the minister in charge to respond to objections against the government’s move to transfer police officers with poor disciplinary records to the Borneo states.
Mohd Azis Jamman (Sepanggar-Warisan) urged the government to answer on this supposed bad practice.
“In addition to the issue, on the same day, news went viral of ill-disciplined police officers being transferred to Sabah and Sarawak. We also want the government to give an explanation on the matter,” he said.
Nga Kor Ming (Teluk Intan-PH) lent his support to the MPs, saying that Sabah and Sarawak is not a “trash bin” for troubled civil servants to be transferred to.
He urged the government to instead take proper disciplinary action against ill-disciplined civil servants rather than transferring them out elsewhere.
This then compelled Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin (Kinabatangan-BN) to concur with the aforementioned lawmakers, similarly urging the government to explain the transferring of troubled police officers to Sabah and Sarawak. – The Vibes, August 4, 2022
