PUTRAJAYA: The government is looking into limiting the participation of civil servants in politics.
Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, in announcing this, said the policy governing civil servants’ involvement in politics will be reviewed and fine-tuned to ensure that it does not impede their official duties.
He said, during the previous government administration, many government officers were involved in political activities, including campaigning, to the extent of even wearing clothes bearing logos of political parties.
“This affected the transparency of the national administration, as these officers would surely be tied to the party and would be one-sided when it comes to decisions.
"Officers who are appointed under ministers, their work is to help their ministers. They should be allowed to be involved in politics.
“But there are also officers who were allowed to participate in politics from way back, such as officers with the Community Development Department (KEMAS).
"There are many areas which need to be studied and decided upon. A detailed study will be done on the involvement of government officers in politics,” he said.
He said civil servants who are not empowered to make crucial decisions could possibly be allowed to be involved in politics but noted that no final decision has been made yet.
Dr Mahathir was speaking to reporters after chaired the Special Cabinet Committee on Anti-Corruption (JKKMAR) meeting on Wednesday.
Also present were Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and National Centre for Governance, Integrity and Anti-Corruption (GIACC) Director-General Tan Sri Abu Kassim.
Meanwhile, speaking on an unrelated matter, the prime minister said all items brought into the country must undergo Customs checks instead of being inspected at random.
He said these were among the steps which need to be taken by agencies and ministries in order to reduce corruption.
The idea, he said, was among those agreed upon by the JKKMAR.
“There are many actions which need to be taken. For example, we have to determine that all items which go through Customs are fully checked, not just one, two or three items at random,” he said. — Reports by Azura Abas, Hashini Kavishtri Kannan, Irwan Shafrizan Ismail and Zanariah Abd Mutalib