Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office (Civil Service Governance) Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Nazmi bin Awang Haji Mohamad reminded civil servants who have been granted permission to carry out part-time business activities not to conduct their business during working hours including leaving the workplace to attend to business matters.

The minister said this during the Second Meeting of the 22nd Session of the Legislative Council (LegCo) in response to the question by LegCo member Yang Berhormat Pengiran Haji Isa bin Pengiran Haji Aliuddin on any action taken by the Public Service Department (JPA) against government employees and officers who engage in small-scale businesses, such as selling nasi katok or confectionery through delivery services during working hours.

The minister said, “under Regulation 10 (Outside Employment) of the Government Officers (Conduct and Discipline) Regulations under the Public Service Commission Act, Chapter 83, any government officer who wishes to undertake outside employment or part-time business activities must first seek approval from the Prime Minister’s Office.”

He added, “any government officer or personnel granted approval to undertake outside employment or small-scale business activities will be subject to the stipulated conditions. Among others, such business activities must not be conducted during office hours or while the officer is required to perform official duties, including leaving the workplace to attend to business matters. To date, applications considered carrying out part-time business activities have been limited to personnel from Division III and below.” The minister said, “Every officer and staff who has been granted approval must at all times comply with the enforced regulations, uphold the values of integrity as civil servants, and ensure that their official duties and responsibilities remain their primary priority.”

Therefore, he iterated, “heads of departments and supervisors are responsible for monitoring the attendance and whereabouts of such officers and personnel during working hours, including assessing their performance from time to time. Approval to undertake outside employment or part-time business activities may be withdrawn at any time if such activities adversely affect the daily work performance of the officers and employees concerned.”

(news source: Borneo Bulletin ; pic source: Info Foto, Jbt Penerangan)