Public Services director-general Mohd Khairul Adib Abd Rahman said the reassignment was temporary but compulsory for those selected to carry it out, adding that this was provided for under the emergency declaration by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong last month.

“The department will issue temporary reassignment letters to the identified officers in stages when their services are needed,” he said in a circular sighted by FMT.

It is understood that the directive is being implemented after Malaysia recorded more than 245,000 cases of Covid-19 infections with nearly 900 deaths up to yesterday.

“In accordance with Section 4, Emergency Ordinance (Essential Powers) 2021, all parties must comply with the instructions when requested by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong or any party authorised by the King to use any source including human resources, facilities, utilities and assets from any party including from government agencies to deal with the Covid-19 emergency,” he said.

The circular did not specify the number of civil servants to be selected for the temporary reassignment or the positions and departments that will be involved but said the reassignment is necessary to “ensure the speedy, effective and efficient management of the Covid-19 emergency”.

“There is a need to deploy existing government human resources to departments that provide essential services or other service or localities that are deemed necessary for the purpose of addressing Covid-19,” Khairul said.

According to the Public Service Department, the reassignment of affected officers will be carried out using the existing financial services and provisions from the respective agencies.

He also directed the departments’ heads to be prepared to release the officers involved and to ensure that it did not affect the service quality of the agencies.

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