Puad calls for proof of any warning to civil servants

The former Umno Supreme Council member questions if deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is stoking tension in the unity government.

Former Umno Supreme Council member Puad Zarkashi said the remarks by deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi were unnecessary.

PETALING JAYA:

A former Umno Supreme Council member has called for proof of any warning to civil servants for attending government events during a state election, as alleged by deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Puad Zarkashi, who quit Umno in July, said Zahid’s remarks came off as confrontational.

“Was there really a need for Zahid to say that?” he said in a Facebook post. “If there is any truth to such claims, Zahid needs to furnish proof – which officers had been issued a warning. Otherwise, Zahid is merely intentionally stoking tension in the unity government.”

On Thursday, Zahid had claimed some civil servants had been called up for questioning over their attendance at ministry programmes in states where elections were taking place. He was quoted as saying: “There is nothing wrong with attending events organised by a ministry in a state that was holding an election. What is wrong with that? Do not punish these officers”.

However, he did not identify those allegedly applying pressure on civil servants, but said those involved were people in senior positions. - FMT