The President’s Office has stated the regulations on political appointees which prohibits them from expressing anti-government views had been formed in 2012.
The President’s Office made the statement following reports that the government had published a new regulation on political appointees, prohibiting them from expressing any views against the government in public. Clarifying the reports, the President’s Office said the regulation had not been formed by the current administration, noting the regulation had recently been re-published with just a single amendment in relation to the sick leave policy following the amendments brought to the Employment Act. As such, the President’s Office stated the sick leave policy was revised to change the maximum number of sick leaves allowed without a medical certificate to 15.
The President’s Office said reports stating the government had enforced a new rule on political appointees to prevent them from expressing their views are false and misleading.