Don’t penalise my staff for criticising me, says Syed Saddiq

Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman with his deputy Steven Sim (sixth from the right) and his staff on his first day at the ministry. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman has instructed his ministry not to take action against a staff member who was given a show-cause letter for allegedly insulting the minister on Twitter.

Syed Saddiq said he had instructed his ministry officers to stop the practice of punishing staff members who had differing views, adding that he accepted criticisms with an open heart.

“Previously, I was laid off for criticising Barisan Nasional. I do not want the same culture to continue,” he said in an Instagram post today.

Following the show-cause letter, the employee has seven days to give a written explanation or action would be taken.

The employee’s Twitter post is said to have negatively damaged the image and “good name” of the government.

It also stated that the employee had violated a clause in the Corporate Fellow Programme Agreement which says that one must not commit any wrongful acts that might tarnish the name of the company or government. - FMT