KUALA LUMPUR – The government has yet to reach a decision on whether civil servants will be allowed to work from home (WFH) and students placed on home-based teaching and learning (PdPR) during the upcoming Asean Summit at the end of May.
Communications Minister and Madani government spokesperson Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said the proposal, which was first discussed two weeks ago, is currently under detailed review by the Asean Secretariat at Wisma Putra.
“The focus is on those working in or around the Asean Summit venue and areas where several major meetings will be held,” he said.
“According to the calendar, the summit is expected to take place at the end of May. I believe we will have more information after the upcoming cabinet meeting, either this week or next.”
Fahmi was speaking to reporters after attending the Universiti Malaya Public Health Campaign: Diabetes is Not a Barrier event at IWK Ecopark Pantai Dalam earlier today.
He added that any decisions related to schools and the education sector would fall under the Education Minister’s jurisdiction, while matters involving civil servants would be handled by the Public Services Department’s director-general.
The proposed WFH and PdPR arrangements were first raised by Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan in response to public frustration over traffic disruptions during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit in April.
The visit saw extensive road closures across Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya, sparking gridlock and drawing criticism on social media from affected commuters.
Mohamad, who is affectionately known as Tok Mat, had issued an apology for the inconvenience and said he would recommend similar measures for the Asean Summits in May and October to help ease congestion.
“I would like to propose to the cabinet that relevant departments be allowed to work from home, and schools implement PdPR to ease congestion and reduce inconvenience experienced by the public, especially in the Klang Valley and Kuala Lumpur,” he was quoted as saying by Bernama.
During Xi’s stay, at least 17 major roads and highways – including parts of the Elite highway, Putrajaya Ring Road, and Lebuh KLIA – were closed or rerouted in stages, causing delays of up to 45 minutes and affecting thousands of motorists.
While some members of the public criticised the lack of coordination, others acknowledged that such closures were in line with standard security measures for visiting heads of state.
According to an opinion piece on Scoop written by news editor A. Azim Idris, traffic congestion in KL and Selangor is costing motorists dearly – an estimated RM6.8 billion in fuel annually just to sit in jams.
Malaysians also lose around 580 hours a year stuck in traffic, while some spend up to RM30 daily on parking, which can total RM600 a month – enough for a short getaway or essential household expenses.
The cabinet is expected to review the proposed arrangements ahead of the Asean Summit to ensure a smoother experience for both delegates and the public. – May 4, 2025