KUALA LUMPUR – Federal civil servants based in Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, Selangor and all state capitals who travel more than eight kilometres one way to work will be eligible to work from home (WFH) starting April 15.
The directive was outlined in a circular issued yesterday by Public Service director-general Tan Sri Wan Ahmad Dahlan Abdul Aziz, as part of the government’s broader response to the global energy crunch linked to the West Asia conflict.
The circular stated that the policy falls under the Human Resource Services Circular (PPSM) SR.4.1.2, which sets out the framework, conditions and guidelines governing WFH arrangements.
It described the phased rollout as a strategic step to bolster government preparedness in managing the impact of rising energy costs.
Several critical sectors are exempted from the policy, including security and defence agencies such as the Malaysian Armed Forces, Royal Malaysia Police, Fire and Rescue Department, Prisons Department, Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, Border Control and Protection Agency, and the Immigration Department.
Healthcare personnel delivering essential services, including doctors, pharmacists, dental officers and nurses, as well as education officers involved in teaching, are also excluded.
For eligible departments, heads of department will determine which services are essential and coordinate WFH schedules based on operational needs. Officers approved for WFH must operate from their registered home address in the Human Resource Management Information System.
Attendance will be tracked via the SPOT-Me system, which includes hourly geolocation features, while supervisors are tasked with monitoring staff presence and productivity.
WFH implementation will also vary by state. States observing Sunday as the weekly rest day will adopt WFH from Tuesday to Thursday, while those with Friday as the rest day will implement it from Monday to Wednesday.
The directive has been extended to state public services, statutory bodies and local authorities in line with federal policy. – April 3, 2026