KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 13): Former Public Services Department director-general Datuk Seri Mohd Shafiq Abdullah will sue those involved in the termination of his service as he is dissatisfied with the decision.

In a statement on Tuesday (Dec 13), Mohd Shafiq said he will be pursuing legal actions against parties responsible for his termination despite having contributed 30 years in the public service sector.

“I feel aggrieved by the government's decision.... I am dissatisfied with the decision to terminate me. I will take legal action against any party involved in this who has mistreated me even though I have contributed for 30 years in the public service,” he said.

According to him, he was given the letter terminating his services which was dated Dec 1, 2022 on Monday (Dec 12). "I was not given a reasonable notice, where the effective date of the termination on Dec 12, 2022, the same day," he said.

Mohd Shafiq said since taking up the position, there were efforts to stop him from being quick and efficient when meetings concerning promotions in his department were delayed by the Chief Secretary to the Government, who chairs the public services promotions authority.

According to him, any decision to appoint and promote civil servants must go through the authority. "The delay in holding the meeting has caused many crucial vacancies in the public sector to not be filled immediately, especially at the most senior management levels of ministries or agencies," he said.

Mohd Shafiq said he supported the new government's aspirations to improve and transform the civil service.

He said there were challenges to building an entrepreneurially minded civil service to ensure more proactive actions to generate results and income for the country, changing attitudes, encouraging strategic thinking, problem-solving mindsets, and analytical thinking. "The goal is to build future leaders," he said.

"I would also like to say that the previous cabinet had decided to not consider continuing the services of retired civil servants via contracts. This is because it will financially burden the government with the payments of both pensions and salaries at the same time. The decision of the prior cabinet could not be executed because of pressures from parties with vested interests," he said.

Earlier on Tuesday, Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali confirmed that Mohd Shafiq’s termination of service was done in accordance with Regulation 49(3) of the Public Officers (Conduct and Discipline) Regulations 1993.

He added Mohd Shafiq was retired in accordance with Subsection 10(5)(d) of the Pensions Act 1980, which allows him to enjoy the retirement benefits to which he is entitled.

According to local news portals, the decision was made according to the standards, including being scrutinised for regularity by the Attorney General's Chambers.

Mohd Shafiq, 58, was appointed as director-general of the Public Service Department on Feb 10, 2022 to succeed Tan Sri Mohd Khairul Adib Abd Rahman, who went on compulsory retirement on Jan 16.

Mohd Shafiq's termination letter went viral on Monday.