Jul 01, 2008
The Star
KUCHING, MALAYSIA - Civil servants must be financially prudent at all times and not just when cost-cutting measures are needed, Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan said.
He said although the Treasury had recently issued a circular outlining various measures to save costs, frugal habits should already be ingrained in the civil service.
'What's important is for government officers to lead a prudent lifestyle all the time, for example switching off the lights when you go out of a room.
'Everyone should have the attitude of not wanting to waste and of managing expenses prudently,' he told a press conference after a meeting with Sarawak's mayors and council chairmen at Wisma Bapa Malaysia recently.
On the need to cut costs in the current economic climate, he said that government departments and agencies could do their part through various measures such as reducing their utility bills and doing away with goodie bags when organising seminars or workshops.
On another matter, Sidek said that government employees should get the green light from their department heads first before applying for permits to set up small businesses to supplement their incomes.
'The only consideration is that doing business will not affect their office work. If the department head feels that it will not disrupt their work, permission will be given,' he said.
He added that local authorities would do their best to issue the permits as quickly as possible.
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