Federal civil servants whose one-way commute between home and office exceeds eight kilometres will be permitted to work from home (BDR), according to a newly issued government circular linked to the ongoing West Asia conflict.
The directive outlines that eligible officers include those serving in the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya, Selangor, as well as all state capitals nationwide. The implementation of this policy is set to take effect from April 15, 2026.
The circular states that the move is in line with the Public Service Human Resource Circular (PPSM) Ceraian SR.4.1.2, which governs the framework, conditions and regulations of remote working. It further explains that the phased rollout of BDR is part of a strategic national response aimed at strengthening preparedness amid global energy uncertainties stemming from geopolitical tensions.
However, key sectors such as security and defence, healthcare, and education are exempted from the work-from-home arrangement, ensuring that essential public services remain uninterrupted.
For states where the weekly rest day falls on Sunday, BDR will be implemented fully on Tuesdays to Thursdays. Meanwhile, in states observing Friday as the weekly rest day — namely Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu — the arrangement will run from Monday to Wednesday, with no remote work allowed on Sundays and Thursdays.
The circular also specifies that officers must work from their registered home address as recorded in the Human Resource Management Information System (HRMIS). Attendance will be monitored through the SPOT-Me system, which uses geolocation via mobile devices, requiring employees to check in hourly.
Department heads are tasked with ensuring accountability by defining clear work outputs for officers on BDR and conducting regular reviews to verify that assigned targets and productivity levels are met.
