Penang: The Penang state government has decided not to implement work-from-home (WFH) arrangements for civil servants at this time, despite the rising fuel costs that have been observed recently.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow stated that the decision was made after evaluating the situation and determining that there is no urgent necessity for such a change. He emphasized that not all types of work are suitable for remote execution and that the current circumstances do not demand immediate action towards WFH policies. During a press conference at Komtar, Chow discussed the considerations that led to this decision.

Previously, on Friday, Chow mentioned that the state government was exploring the possibility of WFH for civil servants as a response to the increasing fuel costs, which have been affected by the global energy crisis. The matter was to be deliberated further in the state executive council meeting held today.

On March 26, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim indicated that the government was in the process of refining flexible working arrangements, including WFH, for civil servants. This initiative aims to mitigate the adverse effects of global oil supply disruptions, offering a possible future pathway for flexible work policies.