THE Government has confirmed that it has given the marching orders to Datuk Seri Mohd Shafiq Abdullah’s service as Public Services Department (PSD) director-general with effect from Dec 12, 2022.
This was also confirmed by Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali earlier today.
“On behalf of the government, I express my deepest appreciation and thanks to YBhg Datuk Seri Mohd Shafiq Abdullah for his service and devotion to the country as a civil servant,” he said in a statement.
“I call on all civil servants to continue to give commitment and dedication in carrying out the duties entrusted to them for the sake of the country we love.”
Shafiq was involved in a public scolding of an immigration officer at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) earlier in August this year.
According to news reports, a group identifying itself as Pakatan Harapan supporters had posted an image of the termination letter on Facebook yesterday.
The termination letter said he was subject to compulsory retirement under Section 49(3) of the Civil Service (Behaviour and Discipline) Regulations, and Section 10(5)(d) of the Pensions Act.
The Government is believed to have terminated Shafiq’s services even before then prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob dissolved the Parliament to call for the 15th general election (GE15).
The disciplinary board had recommended the action, but the Ismail Sabri government had wanted to wait until after the elections before deciding Shafiq’s fate, said reports.
On Aug 3, reports circulated that Shafiq had berated immigration operations chief James Lee at the KLIA VIP counter.
For the record, Shafiq had claimed that the officer in question, James Lee, who was stationed in KLIA was reprimanded for failing to check Shafiq and his delegation’s travel records. Shafiq also claimed his team was told to head straight for customs clearance.
A high-level committee was later formed to carry out investigations.
The Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public Service (CUEPACS) had urged the Government to intervene in the incident saying the civil servant with the rank of director-general was allegedly shouting and uttering abusive words against an officer of the Immigration Department.
CUEPACS president Datuk Adnan Mat said the union regretted the alleged incident but the alleged abuse by the DG had affected the image of public service officers. – Dec 13, 2022
Main pic credit: Bernama
