Bersih wants Mahdzir probed for remarks to civil servants

Bersih has urged the Election Commission (EC) to investigate Education Minister Mahdzir Khalid’s call to civil servants to resign if they hold office in opposition parties.

“Bersih condemns the action of Mahdzir who explicitly threatened civil servants who may support the opposition and not vote for the ruling coalition, BN.

“Bersih calls upon the EC to investigate this matter with immediate urgency in order to protect the rights of citizens to vote without fear or favour and to maintain the secrecy of their votes,” it said in a statement today.

A Chinese daily yesterday reported the minister as saying that civil servants who hold office in opposition parties should quit as their criticisms of the government were tarnishing its image.

However, a separate report by Bernama has Mahdzir saying that teachers need only put a buffer between their careers and political ideologies.

Bersih said Mahdzir’s comment barring civil servants from joining an opposition party or voicing criticisms of the government was a “blatant abuse” of his ministerial position.

“The act of instilling fear of economic loss for civil servants or any person severely violates the rights of civil servants or any other person, as voters, to choose their own representatives.

“Civil servants are not the living property of the ruling coalition.

“They are citizens of the country and their rights are enshrined in the Federal Constitution, which also lays down the foundation and powers of the government,” Bersih said.

The minister’s comment that civil servants are welcome to join the ruling party also shows that he is unable to distinguish the roles and responsibilities of a government and a political party, it said.

Bersih added that a change of government is not necessarily negative, but will increase political competition where incumbent parties will be under pressure to introduce better laws and policies.

“The minister should see this election as a challenge and not be complacent by resorting to underhanded dirty tactics of intimidating those in subordinate positions,” it said.

Earlier today, Mahdzir’s media and communication team said that the minister was merely giving "fatherly" advice to the civil servants to use “wisdom” in making any statement about the government.- Mkini