Chief secretary to the government Ali Hamsa said such action could even amount to termination of service.
“The Public Service Commission (SPA) is well within its rights to fire any civil servant, including those who have retired, if they have been found to have spread damaging news about the government.
“So, I want to advise all civil servants to not get involved in spreading anything or making any comments that could be construed under the General Orders as tarnishing the image of the public sector or that goes against the Official Secrets Act (OSA),” Ali said in a speech during a visit to the Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital here today.
He said those who had grouses should go through the proper channels and those who wished to go against the establishment should take the “respectable” way out and quit.
“This is a question of ethics, the ethics expected of a civil servant. If you feel that you want to do things that are anti-establishment, then be a gentleman and hand in your resignation,” he said.
“Allow those who wish to support the government and are grateful for the opportunity, to take your place instead.”
He also encouraged civil servants to learn to differentiate between false and factual news.
“I’m sure that many of you either have a Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram account and so you must be smart when it comes to using social media to develop a sense of social media literacy so as to avoid spreading damaging, false news even further.”