KUALA LUMPUR: The Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Services (Cuepacs) has welcomed the government's public expenditure control directive.
Its president Datuk Adnan Mat said it would not be a problem for public servants to follow the directive, considering the Finance Ministry issued similar guidelines last year.
"There were prior guidelines instructing all government ministries and departments to optimise government spending.
"Therefore, today's directive serves as a reminder from time to time to ensure its continuous compliance and effective implementation by all civil servants," he said in a statement.
Adnan said the matter of savings and avoiding waste should not only focus on large contexts, leaving out the daily routines like the use of electricity or office supplies.
"Cuepacs urges all public servants, especially department heads, to always adhere to the government's expenditure control directive.
"Cuepacs will consistently channel the government's aspirations, including issues related to public fund savings, through periodic activities involving public servants," he said.
Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali, in a statement posted on his Facebook page, said he had instructed all ministry secretaries-general and government department and agency directors-general to spend prudently.
He said the move was in line with the current need to reduce the government's financial commitments and avoid resource waste.
The circular encompasses the necessity of restricting official events and those deemed genuinely essential, with a preference for conducting these activities at government facilities, centres, and public training institutions.
Public servants are also advised to avoid wastage of food and beverages during meetings or programmes, and conduct online meetings and teleconferencing to reduce logistic expenses, optimise time, and cut down on travel demands.
The guidelines also specify the necessity of booking flight tickets based on the principle of "value for money," promoting early planning and encouraging the use of corporate credit cards.
