Azalina wants action on civil servants who slander govt

© Provided by MToday News Sdn BhdAzalina-OthmanPETALING JAYA: Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Azalina Othman Said has called for stern action to be taken against civil servants, past and present, who slander the government.

Azalina, on her Twitter account, said former civil servants should not use their position to make statements or behave in a manner that will cast the government of the day in a negative light.

She said this was to prevent any misunderstanding from unverified sources and avoid misinterpretations.

Azalina, who is also Penggerang MP, did not specify who she was referring to.

However, in the past, there have been cases of former civil servants who have criticised the government, such as former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, former deputy minister Muhyiddin Yassin and the Group of 25 (G25) comprising eminent retired Malay civil servants and diplomats.

Last year, former cabinet ministers Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah, Muhyiddin Yassin and Shafie Apdal, were questioned by police over allegations of divulging confidential government information about 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).

They had made critical remarks about 1MDB in the Dewan Rakyat, following which Parliament Speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia said they might have breached their oath of secrecy.

They are currently under investigation for allegedly breaking their oath of secrecy and breaching provisions under the Official Secrets Act, for speaking on issues which they learnt of while in their respective ministerial posts.