KUALA LUMPUR, April 9 -- The SME Association of Malaysia has urged the government to defer its planned work-from-home (WFH) directive for the public sector, warning that a premature rollout could send the wrong signal to the market and create unnecessary economic uncertainty.

In a statement today, its national president, Chin Chee Seong, argued that with the recent US-Iran ceasefire and stabilising oil prices, the government should adopt a "calibrated approach based on close observation" rather than proceeding with the policy on April 15 as planned.

The government announced last week that WFH arrangements would be implemented for non-frontline civil servants in major cities to reduce fuel consumption amid the global energy crisis.

Whil...