KUALA LUMPUR, March 25 -- A shocking 14 per cent of civil servants have been declared bankrupt last year, according to data from the Malaysian Insolvency Department.

This alarming statistic has prompted top government leaders, including Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar, to repeatedly warn about the rising household debt among public sector workers.

As a result, this trend has sparked intense debate over its causes and potential solutions.

Why are more civil servants taking on debt?

Shamsul attributes the rise in personal debt among civil servants largely to lifestyle choices. He pointed out that government employees with high debt commitments often live beyond their means, citing instances where they pu...