Ali: Come down hard on personnel leaking govt secrets

 

(The Star) – Heads of government departments have been told to be more stern when taking action against personnel found leaking government secrets, including using the Official Secrets Act.

Chief Secretary to the Government Datuk Seri Dr Ali Hamsa said acts, including falsifying documents and disseminating classified and sensitive information, to other parties should not be tolerated.

“It could jeopardise national security and the Government cannot compromise on such acts.

“I want all heads of departments and security officers to be more stern when taking action against those found doing it.

“Action can also be taken against those who are careless in safeguarding secrets under the Public Officer Rule or the Official Secrets Act (Act 88),” he said at the national Security Protection Convention here yesterday.

Also present was Chief Government Security Office (CGSO) director-general Datuk Johari Jamaluddin.

Dr Ali said he hoped the CGSO would prepare a new security protection policy to replace the present one.

“They could at least update the rules, instructions, guidelines and procedures of the present policy.

“This is because in the current ICT era, we have to be very careful and vigilant to manage the information,” he said.