Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has distanced himself from the call by a senior DAP leader for the government to “break the Malay domination” of the country's civil service.
According to the premier, the remark by Penang Chief Minister II P Ramasamy was a personal opinion and did not represent his coalition or the administration.
"What Ramasamy said was his own opinion, and does not reflect DAP's stance (on the matter). If it's a big problem (Ramasamy's concern) then we (the government) will intervene.
"The matter hasn't been considered but generally, I don't think it's a problem. At the same time, we shouldn't stop people from expressing their opinions," Anwar told reporters after attending the Housewives Social Security Schemes and MyFutureJobs Career fair at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre today.
The Pakatan Harapan chairperson was responding to the suggestion made by Ramasamy on Facebook yesterday - that the civil service has been ossified (become rigid or fixed in position) and needed reforms.
Ramasamy also said the argument that Malay domination in the civil service was needed to counterbalance Chinese control of the economy was no longer valid under the current coalition government administration.
"It doesn't make sense to ensure the civil service remains completely in the hands of the Malays.
"Such a racial policy cannot be defended anymore, not when the unity government is in power," he was reported as saying.
Hence, Ramasamy urged Anwar to address the issue and make the civil service reflective of the country's ethnic composition.
Ramasamy's remark has attracted widespread backlash, including from members of the coalition government itself. - Mkini
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