KUCHING: Sarawak Teachers’ Union (STU) has taken exception of a recent Cuepacs claim that teachers were among the top offenders in the misuse of medical leave certificates.
Calling it unfair STU president, Kullin Djayang, said such a claim can potentially damage the image of the teaching profession.
“Teachers make up one of the largest groups of civil servants in Malaysia, citing data from e-operasi in July 2020, which recorded a total of 416,743 teachers. This number has been increasing yearly, with a recent intake of 18,792 new teachers in February 2024,”he said in a statement Wednesday (Oct 2).
Given the large workforce, Kullin argued that incidents involving medical leave misuse would not be significant when viewed in percentage terms.
“Before making such statements, Cuepacs should consider the actual numbers. When we look at the total population of teachers, the percentage involved in any misconduct is not as large as it may seem,” he stated.
He explained that the process of submitting medical leave certificates is regulated and subject to review by school heads, such as headmasters or principals, who have the authority to accept or reject the certificates based on General Order 15, Chapter C.
This process is outlined in Service Circular No. 2 of 2006, which was further reinforced in 2022 when outpatient treatment leave was increased to 15 days, as announced by the Public Service Department.
He urged Cuepacs to refrain from making such public accusations without proper consideration, warning that it could harm the harmony within the organisation.
He also called on all civil servants to uphold their responsibilities with full commitment.
“We remind all civil servants to remain responsible and dedicated to their duties. Such statements should not be repeated, as they do not foster a healthy working environment,” he added.
