WFH policy saves 2.14mil litres of fuel, RM4.2mil in subsidies – Chief Secretary
KUALA LUMPUR: The government’s Work From Home (WFH) policy for civil servants has led to savings of 2.14 million litres of fuel and reduced subsidy expenditure by RM4.2 million since April 17, Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar said today.
He said the initiative currently involves 357,000 civil servants nationwide.
“The government will ensure that spending for the people remains a priority. Initiatives such as WFH carry real fiscal value beyond the convenience they offer employees,” he said at the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC) Appreciation Award Ceremony in Putrajaya.
Shamsul Azri said the savings came at a crucial time as global fuel subsidy pressures continued to intensify.
He said government expenditure on petrol and diesel subsidies had increased sharply from RM700 million per month previously to an average of RM5 billion per month between April and May 2024 – an increase of more than sevenfold.
“This reflects the fiscal pressure we are navigating, and every initiative that helps reduce that burden matters,” he said.
On the broader reform agenda, Shamsul Azri said the WFH policy formed part of a wider public service transformation framework centred on five key pillars, with governance and values serving as its foundation.
He also cited Malaysia’s improved standing in the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), noting that the country rose to 54th place with a score of 50 last year.
“This is our best performance in six years. However, we cannot afford to be complacent. Integrity issues must remain a standing agenda item in every ministry and agency’s monthly management meetings,” he said.
Shamsul Azri added that several complementary measures had also been introduced alongside the WFH policy, including the Subsidised Diesel Control System 2.0 and the Budi Madani programme, to help cushion rising living costs for households.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
المصدر: New Straits Times