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THE Penang State Executive Council has confirmed that it will not implement work-from-home (WFH) arrangements for state civil servants at this time, following an internal assessment of operational needs and service delivery requirements.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the decision was made after a second round of deliberations, with the state concluding that current conditions remain suitable for maintaining on-site operations.
“For now, there is no need to adopt WFH because an assessment revealed that the present conditions remain ideal for the state to execute its delivery system and maintain an efficient operational system,” he said.
Chow said the state government would continue to monitor developments and revisit the policy if necessary.
“If there are changes requiring a more flexible approach, including the possible reintroduction of WFH, appropriate measures will be considered to ensure a balance between the welfare of civil servants and the efficiency of service delivery,” he said in a statement.
He stressed that the state remained committed to ensuring public services were not disrupted while also taking into account the welfare of public sector employees.
The decision comes despite a federal-level policy shift earlier this month.
On April 1, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced that the Cabinet had agreed to implement WFH arrangements across ministries, government agencies, statutory bodies and government-linked companies, effective April 15.
Chow’s position reflects a divergence from the federal approach, with Penang maintaining that full-scale remote working could affect service performance and administrative efficiency.
He also noted that while global fuel prices remain elevated and supply conditions volatile, the state believes its current operational structure remains the most effective for delivery purposes.
The WFH policy has been linked at the federal level to broader efforts to address rising living costs, including fuel-related pressures amid geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
Although reports indicate a ceasefire between Iran, the United States and Israel remains in place, global fuel prices have continued to hover at high levels, with ongoing tightness in diesel supply in certain markets.
Meanwhile, Penang Consumers Protection Association president Datuk K. Koris Atan urged the state government to reconsider its position, arguing that WFH could also support environmental objectives.
He said Penang is facing multiple pressures, including rising fuel costs, living expenses, traffic congestion and heat conditions, and that reducing vehicle dependency should be part of a broader response.
“To reduce the carbon footprint, there needs to be a stronger effort to arrest the mushrooming of vehicles on the roads,” he said in an interview.
Koris added that WFH could be a practical option in the digital era, noting that remote working systems are now widely viable. - April 22, 2026