Recent allegations of political appointees interfering with the civil service have no place within the new Pakatan Harapan-led government and raise concern the latter’s promises of reforms were mere election fodder, PAS said.
PAS Youth chief Muhammad Khalil Abdul Hadi (above) pointed out that this was especially since Harapan had chastised the previous BN government with similar accusations of interference in the past.
This came amid a claim by the Congress of Unions of Employees in Public and Civil Services (Cuepacs) that civil servants have complained about such interferences in their duties.
“Such a thing should not be happening during Harapan’s time in government, seeing as when BN was the government, Harapan would criticise the same actions (of alleged political interference).
“If what is alleged is true, then the government’s promises of transformation and reforms were false and merely to serve as election ‘treats’ to fish for votes,” Khalil said in a statement published today by PAS mouthpiece Harakah Daily.
Khalil said the role of the civil service is crucial for carrying out the government’s development plans, and as such, political appointees should work together with government servants.
“If such a thing continues, there is concern this could affect everything that has been planned and laid down by the government.
“I am also concerned this could cause tension for the civil servants... especially if it involves political differences and opinions, as well as (differing) work method to what has been the practice of the civil servants all this while,” Khalil, who is the son of PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang, said.
He further called on the government to work with Cuepacs to resolve the problem and prevent reoccurrences
'Misunderstanding'
Cuepacs president Azih Muda had told reporters on Monday that it was still receiving complaints of political appointees interfering in the duties of civil servants, a year after GE14.
The Cuepacs chief was, however, unable to furnish details when asked on the number of complaints received.
This was denied by Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad yesterday, who attributed the matter to a “misunderstanding”.
The premier had responded: “No one disturbs. Sometimes there will be a reprimand if there is a disagreement.”
Meanwhile, in an interview earlier this month, former Council of Eminent Persons chairperson Daim Zainuddin also claimed that civil servants have expressed their unhappiness to him over the extent of political appointments in ministries.
He reportedly advised the current administration to begin trusting and working together with civil servants if it wished for political longevity. - Mkini
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