Federal govt will intensify information dissemination to civil servants: Mustapa

KOTA BARU: The federal government will intensify its information dissemination efforts, especially regarding the current position of government finances to the civil servants, said Kelantan State Federal Action Council (MTPNK) chairman Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed.
Mustapa said the briefing was important to counter negative perceptions posed by irresponsible parties on the related matter.
"The issue of the financial constraints should be briefed because we do not want the civil servants to think that the government can't manage the country because it (the government) doesn't have the money. The government should explain it (to civil servants) that we are implementing austerity measures.
"There may be less satisfied civil servants who can't implement certain programmes due to certain financial constraints. However, many countries are also facing economic uncertainties, and we are thankful that we can still maintain the country's fiscal deficit at 3.1% of gross domestic product (GDP)," he said.
He was speaking to reporters after a gathering with the high ranking officials from Kelantan Education Department which was also attended by state department director Jaafar Ismail in Tunjong here today.
Elaborating, Mustapa, who is also Minister of International Trade and Industry said that although the government practices prudent spending, various assistance in the education sector in particular to help the less fortunate, such as School Early Aid and the Additional Food Plan (RMT) programmes and Poor Students Trust Fund (KWAPM) continued. — Bernama