WFH proposal should not be implemented at the cost of quality service, says SUPP man

KUCHING (March 15): A work from home (WFH) proposal for the public sector should not be implemented at the expense of quality service delivery, said Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) Kuching Youth chief Nicholas Wung.

He said Putrajaya must take into consideration the situation in Sarawak, where government services are primarily offered at physical counters.

“If the federal government deems it necessary to implement such flexible measures, it should be limited to administrative staff.

“Those manning the various counters offering services to the public should maintain the status quo to ensure efficiency and effectiveness,” he said in a statement yesterday.

Wung said allowing civil servants to work from home may help reduce electricity and fuel consumptions but the federal government must make sure all sectors remain unaffected by the measure.

According to him, this proposal, if it takes effect, may have a significant impact on the food and beverages industry, which will certainly see a reduced number of patrons.

He added that such drop of business volume may subsequently lead to a slowdown in the economy in general.

“WFH was a necessary emergency measure during the Covid-19 pandemic when problems such as lack of communication and coordination as well as extended processing times emerged for the delivery of public services.

“This is why after the pandemic, many companies have gradually halted WFH arrangements to improve overall efficiency,” he said.

In Sarawak, he pointed out that physical civil services remain essential, and the WFH policy, if implemented, may inconvenience the community.

He emphasised that the federal government must take into account the needs of Sarawak before implementing the policy nationwide.

Additionally, he suggested that Putrajaya engage discussions with the various sectors across the society before making a decision on the flexible arrangements.

“The government should avoid a rushed implementation since there will be another round of challenges if the policy is reverted,” he said.

Wung also expressed concern that this government WFH policy may have some impacts on the private sector on whether to follow suit or not.

“This involves even broader economic implications and should therefore require thorough evaluation,” he said.

The government is considering implementing WFH policy for the public sector as part of its austerity measures in response to the ongoing conflict in Middle East.

Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had directed Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar and Public Service director-general Tan Sri Wan Ahmad Dahlan Abdul Aziz to study the proposal.