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Shhh...don't expose secrets, PM tells civil servants

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak today pleaded with civil servants to keep their lips sealed with regard to government secrets.



In his speech at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC), Najib said this is in light of recent "leaks".

"In the past few days, many secrets have been exposed. Please safeguard the government's secrets.

"If a (department or ministry) is not ready to make an announcement, do not expose it because the decision later may be different," he said.

"Look at what has happened with the toll charges, before anything is finalised, it has been leaked to the public," he added.

Najib said it was in the best interest of the country for civil servants not to divulge such secrets.

"We have taken an oath (to safeguard government secrets). Do not take it lightly as this is for the country's own good.

"We want Malaysia to become a great nation," he added.

Najib last week said the person who leaked information on the impending increase in highway toll charges "betrayed" the trust of the cabinet.

Pointing out that the issue generated unnecessary negative sentiments towards his administration, Najib also stressed that the increase in toll charges was not final.

Be prudent in spending

Meanwhile, Najib in his speech today also urged all government departments and ministries to be prudent in their spending.

"(Previously), you are considered a good, performing ministry if you finish your allocation. But is that the absolute criteria?

"Why don't we challenge ourselves? We can achieve our objectives and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), and we can lessen our expenditures, too," he said.

The prime minister admitted that ministries usually finished their allocation as the balance usually goes back to consolidated funds.

"As such, I want to suggest that for any ministry which manages to save up, part of the savings will be returned to the ministry," he said.

Each year, each ministry would be allocated millions of ringgit under the yearly Budget.

The auditor-general's reports, however, often reveal various wastages  under each ministry.



Malaysiakini 

Posted at 12.23 p.m.

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