The Public Service Department (JPA) had previously warned of disciplinary action against federal civil servants not fully vaccinated by Nov 1.

Latiff estimated that 28,800 of the 1.6 million civil servants, or 1.8%, were “vaccine-hesitant”.

Responding to a question by MP Chan Foong Hin (PH-Kota Kinabalu) in the Dewan Rakyat today, he said this percentage was based on the latest data provided by the Communicable Diseases Research Centre (CDRC) and JPA.

JPA had instructed civil servants who could not be vaccinated because of health reasons to submit the relevant health information to their heads of department. This information must be verified by a government medical officer.

A JPA circular dated Sept 30 had advised civil servants who had not been vaccinated to do so at walk-in vaccination centres (PPVs) set up by the government.

Asked by Chan on the type of disciplinary action that would be taken against stubborn civil servants, Latiff said the head of department would first issue a show-cause letter which the civil servant had to reply within 21 days.

“If the response is unsatisfactory, a domestic inquiry committee and a disciplinary committee will be formed to consider subsequent action,” he said.

The civil servant will be issued a warning or have his salary or promotion withheld.

Whatever action taken must be executed properly, he said.