Rais must apologise, says DAP

Sarawak DAP has reminded senior minister Rais Yatim of the government directive allowing civil servants to join any party.

KUCHING: Senior federal minister, Rais Yatim, has come under heavy attack from Sarawak DAP for ‘threatening’ the staff at the Information, Communication and Culture ministry.

The opposition party is demanding that Rais, in charge of the said ministry, apologise to his staff for asking them to quit their jobs if they supported the opposition.

He told them that by siding with the opposition, it defeated the purpose of them being government front-liners.

““I would recommend them to quit because their job is to be with the government. On their first day already, we tell them that by joining this line, they are supposed to help the government convey its policies to the people,” Rais had reportedly said after launching a state level 1Malaysia programme here.

Slamming Rais’s statement, Bandar Kuching MP Chong Chieng Jen said: “Rais is using threat that they may lose their pensions.

“Such a statement coming from a senior minister and senior politician is totally uncalled for.”

Describing Rais’ statement as unconstitutional, Chong, who is also state DAP secretary, demanded that he apologise to the staff members of the ministry, especially those attached to the information and special affairs departments.

“Everyone has the freedom to choose any association be it political, as this is guaranteed under our constitution.

“There is a directive, I think it was early last year, from the government that teachers are free to join any political party.

“There is no restriction anymore,” said Chong.

Rais ignored directive

He reminded Rais that Division Two officers and below in any government departments are allowed to be members and office-bearers of any political parties.

“The privilege should be accorded not only for them to join Barisan Nasional parties, but also to join the opposition,” he said.

He accused Rais of ignoring the directive by warning any sympathisers for the opposition in the departments that they should resign.

Rais’ warning came in the wake of Bersih rally last Saturday which saw thousands of people including civil servants taking part in the rally demanding for a fair and clean election in capital city Kuala Lumpur.

“I think the statement is made with the intention to scare the sympathisers of the opposition,” Chong added.