Civil servants warned against leaking government secrets

KUCHING: Civil servants have been warned against leaking government secrets to those bent on destroying the country.

Deputy Defence Minister Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad said the Government would not compromise with anyone for leaking, distributing or falsifying confidential documents and sensitive information.

“I wish to remind all civil servants, especially those under the ministry’s purview, on the dangers of doing so.

“If our enemies or irresponsible people get hold of the nation’s defence secrets, we can expect danger to our country,” he said at the state Defence Department’s excellence service award and Jasamu Dikenang presentation here yesterday.

Dr Abdul Latiff said all heads of departments must take stern action and reprimand those careless enough or refuse to follow the rules and proper work procedures because this could lead to leakage of official and confidential government documents.

Civil servants could be punished under the Civil Servants Regulations 1993 or Official Secrets Act 1972 for leaking, distributing and falsifying government documents, he said.

“There have been some cases — around 0.01% of the country’s civil servants but majority of them understand and follow the laws governing their work etiquette.”

Asked if the army would be deployed to assist in keeping public order during the general election, Dr Abdul Latiff said they would not be involved at all.

“Only the police under the Home Ministry will be involved. For us in the Defence Ministry, it’s business as usual.”

He said the peace the country enjoyed had allowed the ministry to carry out community-based projects in rural Sarawak under the Jiwa Murni and National Blue Ocean Strategy.

Citing examples, he said, the army completed a road linking Lawas and Ba’Kelalan which cost about RM48mil as opposed to the Public Works Department’s estimation of RM400mil.

“It’s cheaper because the logistic, design and construction were all provided by the army at no additional cost because our men already have their salary.”

He added that the army was presently building the Ba’Kelalan-Bario road and would soon be involved in building houses and providing water supply to the rural poor.

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