KUALA LUMPUR, July 25 — Certain politicians’ irresponsible use of civil servants’ names in political disputes can tarnish the reputation of the public service, which has worked tirelessly in developing the country.
Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Services (Cuepacs) president Datuk Adnan Mat said such actions, to the extent of dragging the public service into Parliament, not only have negative impacts but also unfairly affect civil servants who are unable to defend or explain themselves.
“As per the regulations that limit the involvement of civil servants in politics, these should be respected by political leaders by not associating the public service institution and its members with any current political disputes.
“Especially if an issue, the validity of which has not been confirmed, is brought into Parliamentary debates. Civil servants always support whichever government is in power, regardless of political background,” he told Bernama.
Adnan said Cuepacs hopes all parties will respect the public service institution and not associate its members with any political disputes, as civil servants uphold principles of neutrality and professionalism in their respective services.
“Cuepacs also hopes that everyone will continue to cooperate for the benefit of the people and the development of the country,” he said.
On July 18, Machang MP Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal was suspended from the Dewan Rakyat for six months after raising an issue based on a poison-pen letter said to contain information on the real mastermind behind the Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad takeover, which also implicated an Employees Provident Fund employee.
Dewan Rakyat speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul announced the decision to suspend Fayhsal after the motion to suspend him from the Parliamentary sessions and the Select Committee was passed in a block vote.
Meanwhile, all MPs have been advised not to easily trust poison pen letters without solid evidence, particularly those involving public servants, and to refrain from spreading them without verifying their authenticity first.
Cuepacs secretary-general Abdul Rahman Mohd Nordin said that as representatives of the people, MPs should set a good example in their speeches and actions during Parliamentary sessions.
“Follow the rules in Parliament; if the poison pen letter lacks evidence, it is inappropriate to bring it up in Parliament. It should be referred back and discussed with the Dewan Rakyat Speaker, and we must protect each other’s dignity to prevent slander.
“Slanderous and baseless accusations should not be the focus because the public listens to everything said in Parliament. If the accusations are true, that is fine, but if not, they become slander and will tarnish the reputation of the MPs themselves,” he said.
Abdul Rahman was speaking as a guest on Bernama TV’s ‘Malaysia Petang Ini’ programme, which discussed the topic ‘Stop Slandering Public Servants’.
He added the practice of spreading poison pen letters within the civil service is not the best method for resolving issues, as it often leads to slander against innocent public servants.
Abdul Rahman suggested that if a public servant’s behaviour or attitude is dissatisfying, it should be channelled through the proper avenues.
“Each department has a Public Complaints Bureau and the legal department that can investigate whether the allegations are true or not. Writing anonymous letters can lead to slander and unfounded accusations.
“It is better to meet the individual directly if the matter can be discussed,” he said.
— Bernama
