KUALA LUMPUR: The Prime Minister's Department (JPM) has issued a new circular on the Regulations for Public Officers Making Personal Visits Overseas, which took effect on Oct 1, in line with the effort to improve the public delivery system.

The General Circular No.3/2012 compels all public officers who are planning to make personal visits overseas to get an approval from their superior officers according to their posts and categories.

The circular, signed by Chief Secretary to the Government Datuk Seri Dr Ali Hamsa (pic), is issued to replace the General Circulars dated March 1, 1984 and June 11, 1986.

Public officers who are on a fully-paid study leave, on the other hand, are requested to get a written approval from their academic supervisors and inform their heads of departments for record purposes, while those who have to make frequent visits to a neighboring country should apply for the approval by using the application form to make a visit overseas for public officers.

Officers making personal visits overseas are also compelled to make a declaration of having sufficient financial ability for the visit.

Apart from that, they must also declare that the visit is not sponsored by any individuals or private companies that can raise a reasonable doubt that the officer is putting his personal interests above his duties as a public officer or letting his personal interests to contradict with his official duties.

The circular also reminds the public officers that they are not allowed to travel to prohibited countries except with approval from the Home Ministry and the government of Malaysia. - Bernama

• Battersea Power Station's Phase 1 records RM3.12b sales
• Instacom bags RM205m telco job in Sarawak
• BToto hopes to list business trust in Singapore end-August
• KLCI up nearly 8pt midday, banks, O&G lead gainers (Update)
• Despite curbs, China's vast hot money triangle flourishes
• RHB Research maintains Neutral on auto sector
• Malindo Air to take off from Subang on June 3
• Affin Research lowers Petra Energy to Reduce
• Pintaras surges to all-time high on higher earnings
• MIDF Research: Return of local retail investors
• SapuraKencana drives KLCI higher in early trade
• Sino Hua-An in the black, posts RM3.33m net profit
• Malaysia-Market factors to watch on May 20(Monday)
• Maybank KE Research maintains Buy on Alam Maritim, ups TP to RM1.30
• Winning ticket for record $590.5mil Powerball lottery sold in Florida

• Burial place of Argentina's Videla a mystery
• Britain's Cameron makes personal plea to tax havens
• Beatles guitar auctioned for $408,000 in US

• Golf: Johnson triumphs by one stroke at Mobile Bay LPGA
• Chong Wei urges team-mates to bounce back from shock defeat to Taiwan
• Kien Keat-Boon Heong may not play in Group C tie against Germany
• Koo-Tan’s stunning loss rocks Malaysian camp
• Kjaersfeldt ready to continue strong Danish tradition
• Sindhu shines for India after spectacular performance
• Danial shatters 100m mark as four records fall on opening day
• Pavithraa in sizzling form despite the heat
• Wee Wern relishes playing at unique venue ... a football stadium
• Coach Irving has no doubts Nicol will peak at the right time
• ‘Comeback king’ Timothy lands his second title
• KLHC to the fore again
• New Cheras velodrome may steal limelight from RM80mil Labu project
• Azlan and Zamri do Malaysia proud in ARRC race at Sentul
• Broken clutch lever costs Hafizh dearly in Le Mans

• Please wait.

• MPs can earn up to RM10,000 per month
• Ten important items for you to prepare for the inevitable
• Professionals warn there is too much of office space in the Klang Valley
• Abdul Wahid and Paul Low taking huge pay cuts
• Take action against Kian Ming, voter told
• Should Sime Darby also demerge; big values can be created by spinning off companies
• Crest Builder adopts sell some, keep some strategy
• Stern action awaits rally-goers
• Prosecution given until June 6 to decide on rape-marry case
• DAP unhappy over Selangor exco positions