CIVIL servants who were sidelined by the previous administration will be reinstated, said Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad today.

He said while the new Pakatan Harapan government might be unable to help these government officers financially, given the nation’s massive debt, it can assist by getting them back in their former positions.

“The government will reinstate them, or compensate them if they were ‘tortured’.

“We will defend those who had fallen victim,” he said during a town-hall session with 3,400 administrative and diplomatic officers in Putrajaya.

“As for the money, you need to wait a while, as the government is short on money because of the debts we have to pay off.”

He said those who were wronged by Barisan Nasional must provide evidence and reports for their cases to be considered.

He said even he was “tortured” by the previous administration – having his allowances cut off and being shunned by friends.

“I, too, was tortured. My allowances were gone, my friends were afraid. My friends needed to pay a lot in taxes. That was the suffering I had to undergo.”

Dr Mahathir told civil servants to write to him directly if they have complaints on their superiors, or if they see anything wrong with the administration.

He also questioned the loyalty of some in the civil service, saying there are those “sabotaging” the government. – August 15, 2018.