‘Govt shouldn’t be suspicious of civil servants’

KUALA LUMPUR: The government has been urged to focus on the need for civil servants to adhere to their “Aku Janji” pledge to serve the government of the day, instead of questioning their loyalty.

Political analyst Dr Ainul Adzellie Hasnul said civil servants should be neutral and refrain from supporting any political party. It would be unethical, he said, for a civil servant to openly campaign for a political party.

“While there is no doubt that some may have their political leanings, the government should not be suspicious of civil servants, but instead, remind them of their obligations.

“I’m confident that civil servants are professional in carrying out their duty and would not openly show their support for any political party.”

Dr Ainul Adzellie said if officers held positions in any political party, they must relinquish them.

This, he said, was because government officers in the A grade category could not hold positions in political parties, except with a written permission from the chief secretary.

Political analyst Azmi Hassan opined that the government should not lose confidence in civil servants as the basic task of a government employee was to carry out government policies for the benefit of the country.

He said the camaraderie demonstrated between civil servants and the previous Barisan Nasional administration was to facilitate the work process.

“The issue of loyalty does not arise here because the appointment of civil servants does not hinge on an individual’s political standing.

“When they carry out the government’s policies, it does not mean that they had cast their vote for Barisan Nasional in the election. Responsibility and political ideology are two different things,” he said.

However, Universiti Utara Malaysia political lecturer Professor Dr Mohd Azizuddin Mohd Sani said it was normal for the government to have doubts as some civil servants had that mindset.

“Action has been taken, as seen from the 17,000 people (permanent and contract staff) whose tenure was ended.

“I believe the people need to serve the government of the day, not political parties, unless a policy is drawn up to enable everyone, including civil servants, to be active in politics.

“However, there must be rules and procedures in place to ensure that civil servants do not run away from their responsibility, which is to serve the government.”