Quit civil service if politics conflicts with job, says top civil servant

Desmond Davidson Desmond Davidson Updated 8 years ago · Published on 22 Jan 2018 4:08PM · 4 Comments

Public Service Department director-general Zainal Rahim Seman (left) and Cuepacs president Azih Muda speaking during a press conference after a TN50 dialogue in Petra Jaya, Srawak today. Zainal Rahim says civil servants should quit the service if their political opinion is in conflict with their position as a government servant. – The Malaysian Insight pic, January 22, 2018.

CIVIL servants should leave the service if their politics is in conflict with government policies, Public Service Department (PSD) director-general Zainal Rahim Seman said.

His remarks came in light of the controversy surrounding Education Minister Mahdzir Khalid’s warning to teachers and education officers last weekend that they faced disciplinary action if they supported the opposition.

“If your politics is in conflict with your position (as a government servant), then get out,” he said when asked about Mahdzir’s comments at a TN50 dialogue in Petra Jaya, Sarawak today.

Zainal Rahim said circulars had been issued in 2009 and 2010 on the rules, guidelines and ethics for civil servants who wish to be involved in politics.

The guidelines stipulate that civil servants in grades 41 to 48 are allowed to be involved in politics and must first get approval from their head of department and their ministry’s secretary-general.

Those in administrative positions, however, cannot join politics as they were privy to a lot of government information that could be abused politically, Zainal Rahim said.

Action can be taken against those who breach the rules, he added.

Mahdzir has denied threatening teachers and said his remarks were misinterpreted. His press team had also tweeted that the minister was merely giving “fatherly advice” to teachers.

Cuepacs president Azih Muda was with Zainal Rahim at the same event in Kuching today, said he did not respond to Mahdzir earlier because he believed the minister was misquoted.

“I know him personally. I am convinced he would not say such a thing,” Azih said.

“(There is) no problem (with civil servants getting actively involved in politics) but they must get approval first.”

Mahdzir’s warning was reported by Chinese daily Kwong Wah on Saturday from his speech to education officers and teachers at the ministry’s new year address in Putrajaya.

The paper quoted the minister as saying that civil servants were barred from joining any opposition party or criticising the government as it was tantamount to sabotaging and tarnishing the government’s image.

Mahdzir was also quoted as saying that the government wouldn’t allow any of its officers to join any opposition party or hold any party post “but it’s okay if they were to join the government (BN parties)”. – January 22, 2018.

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Comments

  • Hey silly man you have intentionally misconstrue the subject matter. Civil servants are beholden to Rakyat in providing the services of the job required. They do not have to leave the service even if their political mindset inferences are different as long as they are still providing the services as expected. THEY CAN VOTE ANYBODY THEY LIKE TO BE THEIR GOVERNMENT AND NOT JUST UmnoBN. Please make sure you yourself understand that Government and Political Parties comes and go but the civil servants remain to serve. Get that facts right. I see you are also threathening the civil servants by outlaying and reading the laws as per to your terms. Stop the bulling!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Posted 8 years ago by Lee Lee · Reply

  • It sounds more Zainal Rahim should resign that he does not understand that the CIVIL servant is the servant of the Rakyat. That is what CIVIL means.

    Posted 8 years ago by Bigjoe Lam · Reply

  • I think Zainal got is absolutely wrong. THE ISSUE IS WHETHER A CIVIL SERVANT CAN VOTE FOR ANY PARTY HE/SHE WISHES GE 14 ELECTION? Mr. AZIH MUDA AND PSD DG Mr. ZAINAL RAHIM PLEASE ENLIGHTEN CLEARLY TO THE CIVIL SERVANTS SINCE Mr. ZAINAL IS PAID ON TAX PAYER MONEY ?

    Posted 8 years ago by Mohanarajan murugeson · Reply

  • ///The guidelines stipulate that civil servants in grades 41 to 48 are allowed to be involved in politics and must first get approval from their head of department and their ministry’s secretary-general.///--the author

    That guidelines is obviously biased since civil servants will certainly be approved to support BN and rejected if they support non-BN. The rule should be all civil servants can either automatically be allowed to be involved in politics or not at all. The head of department cannot themselves be involved and much less approve others' involvement if they needed the approval of secretary-general. Is KSN above the rule, and is he not the civil servant?

    Posted 8 years ago by Meng Kow Loh · Reply