CIVIL SERVANTS BANNED FROM TAKING PART IN GET-RICH QUICK SCHEMES

The Star
By SIM LEOI LEOI

14/1/2009

PETALING JAYA: Civil servants will not be allowed to take part in get-rich-quick schemes under a new directive after it was found to have given rise to many personal and family problems among the staff.
Public Service Department director-general Tan Sri Ismail Adam said civil servants would no longer be allowed to act as sponsors, intermediaries or even investors in such schemes.
“At present, the Government has found many civil servants to be either directly or indirectly involved in these schemes. This has affected our image.
“In addition, the sponsors of such schemes would also exploit the situation by giving the impression that the scheme had the approved by the Government in order to lure in other investors.
“This unhealthy trend has caused those involved in the schemes to face financial, family and social problems, which could result in their performance being impacted in the workplaces,” he said in a circular on the department’s website on Wednesday.
Ismail said for this reason, the Government had decided to forbid any civil servant from participating in such schemes.
“All those involved must now stop their activities with immediate effect,” he said.
In the circular dated Jan 13, Ismail also warned that those found to have been involved in such schemes, particularly if they had conspired with their sponsors to lure more investors, could face disciplinary action.
“The heads of departments are responsible in monitoring their staff and reporting any offence to the disciplinary committee,” he said.
When contacted, Cuepacs president Omar Osman said he knew of many among the 1.2mil civil servants in the country, who were involved but that many chose not to come forward when they ran into problems later.
“It is only when they fail to turn up for work then it was found that these civil servants had to take up a a part-time job to pay for their investments. Many also took up offers from loan sharks, which got them in deeper trouble.
“Most investors with get-rich-quick schemes only reap huge profits the initial time they join. After that, they would found themselves subsequently losing money.
“Many would also take part thinking they could supplement their income,” he said, adding that the union welcomed the directive specifically forbidding civil servants from such activities