KUCHING: Civil servants or pensioners who flout the movement control order (MCO) should not be deprived of their pension, said Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri James Jemut Masing.
Masing said this in response to Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Services (Cuepacs) statement which said that various privileges enjoyed by civil servants and government retirees could be revoked if they are found guilty during MCO period.
“That is their livelihood after retirement, I do not agree if the government is thinking in that direction,” he told New Sarawak Tribune yesterday.
He said there should be other forms of penalties for the flouters of MCO instead of resorting to impoverishing them.
“It can be cash penalty but not imprisonment,” he said.
On Tuesday, Senior Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said no more compounds of RM1,000 will be issued for MCO violators, instead they would be arrested.
Meanwhile, Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) Women chief Datuk Chiew Yen Chew said the government has taken an unprecedented step in imposing the MCO, civil servants, including those on government pension, should be proactive in helping to curb the spread of Covid-19.
“I personally can’t see any excuse why civil servants and retired government servants are not able to set good examples to the public,” she said, adding she would like to see cases of defying the MCO studied case by case before any punishment is meted out.
She said she understood Cuepacs’ point of view, and felt that as citizens of this country, civil servants, including the pensioners should have better insight and understanding of the government directives.
Political observer Datuk Peter Minos said Cuepacs is right in stating that all civil servants ought to know the law and also must set good examples by following the law.
“MCO is a legal order, having the force of law and is enforceable by law, in which it is needed to contain and eliminate the deadly virus.
“As such compliance is absolutely necessary. Non-compliance invites punishment,” he said.
“Civil servants who deliberately defy MCO will need to face the music, especially for repeated offenders.
“Fair or not, repeated offenders cannot be excused and may lose their pensions as the civil service code stipulates,” he said.
Minos is of the view that it is up to the court to evaluate and consider each case brought before it.
“Personally, however, because the situation is dire the MCO must be complied with by all, without exception,” he pointed out.
