PETALING JAYA: A former PKR MP has urged the government to review the gag order that prohibits civil servants from making public comments on government policy.
Dr Lee Boon Chye, who is also the former deputy health minister, said the existing rules are archaic.
“I believe that it should be reviewed in the spirit of ‘masyarakat Madani’. Everyone should be responsible for their statements, whether they are civil servants or not.
“However, they should be judged only if they are making a malicious or false statement. Not because they are civil servants,” he told FMT, referring to a comment by his party colleague and health minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa.
On Thursday, Zaliha cited Regulation 19(1) of the Public Officers (Conduct and Discipline) Regulations 1993, which states that public officers cannot, either verbally or in writing, make any public statement that can “harm” whatever government policy, plan, or decision on whatever issue.
She was responding to a question by Senator Zurainah Musah who asked Zaliha about the ministry’s policy on its staff speaking to the media about the situation in public healthcare facilities on the condition of anonymity.
Meanwhile, three doctors from the Klang Valley who prefer to go by their first names, expressed frustration over Zaliha’s reminder as it was regressive.
Dr Irsyad said reminding doctors about the gag order while they were speaking out about issues and seeking action, was “not helpful”.
Similarly, Dr SK said if healthcare workers wanted to speak out about issues affecting them, the ministry should not hide behind the gag order.
“The regulation is needed, but it should be on a case-by-case basis. The minister should walk the talk and look into the doctors’ current grievances more constructively instead of using policies to hide weaknesses within the system,” he said.
He also noted that Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim had previously stated that civil servants should speak out against government actions that are deemed to have violated rules and regulations.
Dr Tim said the ministry should not regulate comments on public policies because it “interfered with freedom of expression”. He also urged the minister to not penalise those who voiced their concerns.
Meanwhile, former health minister Dr S Subramaniam said the reminder was not unusual as it had been the government’s policy for decades.
“These kinds of directives are essential to ensure conflicting views and factually incorrect statements do not emerge from the various members of the civil service and communicated to the public,” he said, pointing out that the responsibility of communicating such views is left to the heads of relevant departments. - FMT
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