8/14/2019 TheSun 2009-06-29 Page01 Second Jobs Ok But

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Member of Audit Bureau of Circulations (Malaysia)

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No. 4790 PP 2644/12/2009 (023092)

MondayJune 29, 2009

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PSD: Second

jobs OK but ...

by Maria J. Dassnewsdesk@thesundaily.com

PETALING JAYA: Civil serv-ants are given the leeway totake on second jobs and delvein businesses to supplementtheir income but it must not

be in conflict with their governmentjobs.

The second jobs must also bedone after office hours and not affecttheir productivity in government

service, Public Service Departmentdirector-general Tan Sri Ismail Adamtold theSunyesterday.

Ismail was responding to a Ber-nama report quoting Cuepacs ascalling for leniency when dealingwith civil servants who are in debtand are taking on extra jobs to top uptheir income.

Cuepacs secretary-generalAhmad Shah Mohd Zin said about40% of the countrys 1.2 million civilservants are in debt and have take-home salaries less than 40% of theirmonthly income.

Ismail said: Those who want totake on additional jobs have to firstget permission from their depart-ment heads. I do not know how theestimation that 40% of civil servantsare in debt was reached but if this istrue, it is a big number, and comesas a surprise especially since support

staff, especially those living in thecity had received good incrementsover the last two years.

He said civil servants spendingand lifestyle should commensuratewith their earnings.

Giving examples of conflict ofinterest with respect to the secondsource of income, he said policemenworking with security companiesand teachers setting up tuition cen-tres can be construed as conflict ofinterest and thus subject to discipli-nary action.

In the Bernama report, AhmadShah said heads of ministries anddepartments should be humane indealing with civil servants who arein debt as this group of workersneeded special attention as theymay be vulnerable to corruption andmoonlighting.

Almost 450,000 of the civil serv-ants are in debt and their take-homesalary is less than 40% of their

THEY MUST NOT BE IN CONFLICT WITH GOVT JOBS

MUST BE DONE AFTER OFFICE HOURS

monthly pay, he said, adding that thebulk of their salaries is deducted atsource as payment for various loans housing, cars, renovations, educa-tion and hospitalisation.

Cuepacs stand is that these offic-ers need to be rehabilitated beforeany disciplinary action is takenagainst them.

What is happening now is thatthe heads of department usually findthe easy way out by taking discipli-nary action, like stopping increments,denying promotions and suspensionfrom duty, thus aggravating thesituation.

Ahmad Shah said hundreds ofcivil servants are moonlighting astaxi drivers, petty traders, direct salesagents and watchmen to make endsmeet.

Although the government isaware of the situation and has takensome positive steps like giving themofficial permission to work part-time,it is not enough, he said.

The high cost of living, especiallyin the urban areas, is eating into theirincome, thus causing them to beconstantly in debt, he said.

Federation of Malaysian Con-sumer Associations (Fomca) sec-retary-general Muhammad ShaaniAbdullah agreed that the high cost of

KUALA KRAI: Kesedar projectmonitoring division manager TuanAziz Tuan Mat is the Barisan Nasional(BN) candidate for the Manek Uraistate by-election on July 14.

The selection of Tuan Aziz, 39, whois Kuala Krai Umno Youth chief, wasannounced by party deputy presidentTan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin in a functionin Kampung Sok Luar, Manek Urai,here.

Muhyiddin, when making the

announcement, said Tuan Aziz hadthe undivided support of the partyleadership, including Umno presidentDatuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak, and alllevels of the party right down to thegrassroots.

He said it had been difficult inselecting the candidate becausethere were many eligible people.

Nevertheless, we considered thematter in detail. We are fielding acandidate who is well accepted by theconstituents, he added. Bernama

Kesedars TuanAziz is BNs manfor Manek Urai

living is one factor contributing to thedebts of civil servants.

It is a myth that civil servants arespendthrifts and dont know how tomanage money. The truth is thatcivil servants salaries have not keptin tandem with the increase in thecost of living, he said.

Muhammad said if the govern-

ment is unable to increase salaries,it can assist these civil servants inmany other ways to cope with therising cost of living.

Some of the areas where it canhelp are to improve the public trans-portation system to make it affordableand reliable, provide better medicalfacilities and more scholarships,open special cooperatives, offer softloans for housing and other needsand give discounts on utilities.

Taking no chances ...This is no clinic but an office atUniversiti Malaya where freshmenregistering for the 2009/2010intake yesterday were asked to fillmedical declaration forms and werescreened to ensure they were freeof Influenza A(H1N1) symptoms.The same procedure was observed

in all other public universities.See also reports on Page 4

KAMARIDUANMOHDNOR/THESUN