SHAH ALAM, April 29 — Selangor’s iteration of the work-from-home (WFH) policy has contributed to a noticeable reduction in utilities and fuel consumption in the state, Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari said today.
Addressing the Selangor State Legislative Assembly, he said the policy, when applied under suitable conditions, has led to lower usage of electricity and other utilities, alongside a decline in fuel consumption.
“Claims for medical leave and treatment costs have also dropped significantly, recording a decrease of nearly 30 per cent since the implementation of WFH.
“However, the key concern remains on how to maintain efficiency and productivity. For that reason, the implementation will continue to be monitored on a regular basis,” he said in response to a question by Meru assemblyman Mariam Abdul Rashid on flexible work arrangements to manage impacts of the West Asia conflict.
The WFH policy was reintroduced and expanded by the Selangor government last month for state civil servants, as an immediate measure to manage rising costs.
Currently, about 54.4 per cent of officers have been granted WFH with rotational schedules. Meanwhile, 39.3 per cent are ineligible due to the proximity of their homes being less than 8km to their workplaces, while 15 per cent are required to attend work in person due to the nature of their duties.
The state government has also encouraged the private sector to adopt similar flexible arrangements where suitable, noting that government-linked companies (GLCs) are already pursuing such efforts.
“The broader aim of the initiative is to reduce fuel consumption as part of efforts to ensure long-term supply sustainability.
“Reducing petrol and diesel consumption remains a key priority for the state government moving forward,” Amirudin said.
He also stressed the importance of optimising electricity and overall utilities usage, including by adopting solar energy and other energy-efficient measures.
