AN invitation to Kelantan Bersatu’s buka puasa (breaking of fast) using an official government letterhead has led the state opposition to cry foul.

Kelantan Umno Youth is now demanding an explanation from the state’s director of education and the Tanah Merah education district office (PPD) over the use of the Education Ministry letterhead for a political event.

Its chief, Noor Hariri Mohamed Noor, said such action goes against the call by Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad – who is also Bersatu chairman – for the civil service to be free from partisan politics.

“Is this the latest practice of the government of the ‘New Malaysia’ or an attempt by the PPD to flatter the minister of education in the hope that its KPI (key performance indicators) would he high?” Hariri asked.

“Umno Youth demands a reply from the Kelantan education director and the Tanah Merah PPD on this issue as it had smeared the civil service that should be free of political links as espoused by the prime minister,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

A letter from the Tanah Merah PPD inviting all principals and headmasters of schools in the district to attend the breaking-fast event organised by Bersatu on Wednesday went viral on the social media.

Umno Youth is not against civil servants being invited to a buka puasa event, he said, but questioned the use of a departmental letterhead.

“Umno Youth welcomes the invitation of civil servants to this gathering but it has never been the practice of the previous government to issue invitations to political gathering by using official letterhead.

“Civil servants in the past attended political gatherings of the party they supported on their own accord without being forced by a directive from their department,” he said.

He added that state departments would only issue official invitations if a minister is present for official functions.

Education Minister Maszlee Malik, who is from Bersatu, was not present at the event.

The Tanah Merah PPD has yet to respond.

Meanwhile MCA president Wee Ka Siong also raised the issue in a Facebook posting, asking why Bersatu was given the red carpet to organise the event at SM Tanah Merah in Kelantan.

“What is the story YB Minister? Opposition members are not allowed into schools but your party is given the red carpet. Is this the ‘New Malaysia’?

“Haven’t Pakatan Harapan leaders, including YB Lim Guan Eng, said that education must be separated from politics?” Wee said in the post. – May 26, 2019.