KUALA LUMPUR: The government has no plans to allow civil servants to be actively involved in politics for fear it will affect their principle of neutrality, said Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Mohamed Hanipa Maidin.
“Actually, there are cases where written permission is given (for civil servants), but if possible, we do not want government officers to be actively involved in politics because the nature of government officers and politics is different,” he said during question time at the Dewan Rakyat sitting yesterday.
The deputy minister was responding to a supplementary question from Datuk Abd Rahim Bakri (PH-Kudat) who wanted to know whether the government would allow civil servants in the support group and teaching profession to be involved in politics.
Mohamed Hanipa said under the current regulation, the government only allows civil servants at the executive level and education officers in grade DG41 to DG48 to be involved in politics or hold post in political parties, while those at the higher management level, as well as those in the Management and Professional Group are not allowed to do so.
However, they have to obtain prior permission from the respective department heads, he added.
He said those who are involved in politics without the permission of their department heads could face disciplinary action.
The errant officers may be given warning or sacked from the service, he added. – Bernama
