Civil staff must reply to queries

Civil servants are obliged to reply to any query received, said Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan. “It is the civil servant’s job. If it’s about implementation and clarification, they can and must do it. However, they can’t comment on policy matters,” he said.
Mohd Sidek said the civil service had to learn to move with the times and use social media such as Twitter and Facebook to communicate with the public.

Better understanding: The Star’s group chief editor and executive director Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai briefing (from right ) Abd Aziz, Mahmood, Mohd Sidek and Ahmad Phesal during their visit to Menara Star in Petaling Jaya Thursday.

“Our Prime Minister wants us to do that.
“He himself tweets in the car on the way to meetings or functions,” he said after visiting Menara Star here yesterday.
Also present were Home Ministry secretary-general Tan Sri Mahmood Adam, the ministry’s Publications Control and Quranic Text Division secretary Abd Aziz Md Nor and Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Ministry secretary-general Datuk Ahmad Phesal Talib.