Zahid reveals seven ‘problematic’ officers transferred out
PUTRAJAYA: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said seven “problematic” officers in the Home Ministry were transferred out since he took office.
The transfers of the personnel, who held different positions from Grade 54 and below, were due to disciplinary issues and alleged abuse of power, he revealed.
“In the case of the seven, we acted fast against them to safeguard the integrity and good name of the ministry,” he told the media after addressing staff of the ministry and agencies under its purview at its monthly gathering yesterday.
However, he did not elaborate on the kind of wrongdoings that had allegedly been committed by the seven, saying that action had been taken against them under the Public Service Department’s rules and regulations.
Dr Ahmad Zahid became Home Minister in 2013.
He also said it was a common practice in the ministry to move staff holding sensitive positions to different departments to prevent the possibility of abuse of power happening.
“There is nothing unusual about our practice or the announcement made by the Chief Secretary to transfer public officers after a certain number of years in one position. Even if there is no wrongdoing, movements do happen,” he said.
Dr Ahmad Zahid reminded civil servants that they had made a pledge to serve with honour and integrity when they joined the service.
Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Dr Ali Hamsa had said earlier that 50 officers holding “sensitive posts” for more than five years would be given new positions as officers in charge of finance, procurement and awarding of contracts could not be in their positions for more than the said period.
The transfers, which are ongoing, came after the Youth and Sports Ministry’s fund embezzlement case where a finance division officer was said to have pilfered some RM100mil over a period of six years.
On another issue, Dr Ahmad Zahid, who attended the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington last week, said Malaysia would play its part to ensure that facilities housing radioactive materials had a high level of security.
He added that his ministry and the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry would conduct checks on premises housing radioactive materials to ensure they have secured access points and CCTVs to prevent security breaches.
In Malaysia, radioactive materials are mostly used for medical purposes in hospitals and pharmaceutical companies as well as universities, but in lower quantities.