SHAH ALAM, Mar 16 — The proposal to introduce work-from-home arrangements (WFH) following rising petrol costs linked to the West Asia conflict should be studied thoroughly before implementation.
State executive councillor for youth, sports, and entrepreneurship Mohd Najwan Halimi said that although the proposal is positive, it may not be suitable for all sectors as certain jobs require employees to be physically present.
“For example, teachers need to conduct face-to-face lessons in the classroom to ensure the learning process runs effectively and that interaction between teachers and students takes place properly.
“Therefore, not all sectors are suitable for or able to implement WFH. At present, there is no urgent need to reintroduce Teaching and Learning at Home (PdPR), but the WFH proposal can still be studied,” he told Media Selangor at a programme today.
Najwan added that implementing PdPR needs further study, as experience during the previous Movement Control Order showed it could impact the effectiveness of students’ learning.
On Thursday (March 12), Parti Keadilan Youth Wing chief Mohd Kamil Abdul Munim suggested the government consider targeted WFH arrangements for certain sectors.
He said doing so could reduce daily travel and petrol consumption amid rising global oil prices driven by geopolitical uncertainties in West Asia.
Previously, Unity Government spokesman Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said the government will decide this week on a proposal to allow civil servants to work from home amid the ongoing West Asia conflict.
He said that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has instructed the Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar and the Public Service director-general Tan Sri Wan Ahmad Dahlan Abdul Aziz to study the proposal to ensure effective coordination of the public service, with the matter to be decided at the Cabinet meeting tomorrow.
The proposal follows a similar measure implemented in Thailand for government agencies and state enterprises to reduce energy consumption amid geopolitical tensions.
The conflict in West Asia began on February 28 when the United States (US) launched an attack on Iran, prompting Tehran to respond with missile and drone strikes on US interests and its allies in the region.
The tensions have also impacted the global energy market, particularly the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic route that carries about 20 per cent of the world’s oil supply, amid Iranian threats to block shipping in the area.
