PASIR PUTEH, Feb 26 (Bernama) -- Heads of government departments are required to solve immediately complaints from the public regarding misconduct of their officers.

Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Samsudin Osman said a directive to that effect had been issued to all department heads recently.

"Delay in solving the complaints will create more problems," he told reporters after visiting the National Tobacco Board (NTB)'s tobacco farmers-cum-curers settlement project at Kampung Air Tawar here Sunday.

He said this in response to a proposal by Gerakan President Datuk Seri Dr Lim Keng Yaik, which was reported by a private television station last night, for the government to have special officers at all departments to monitor abuse by civil servants.

Samsudin said the heads of the respective departments could appoint a special officer for the purpose.