PAS Youth has condemned Deputy Education Minister Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi for defending an education ministry official who blatantly campaigned for BN ahead of the Tenang by-election.

The movement’s information chief Suhaizan Kaiat said that Puad’s justifications for Johor Education Department director Markom Giran’s actions, were untenable.

Among others, Puad said that Markom was allowed to support the federal government because he was a civil servant and that since the candidates have yet to be nominated, Markom’s actions does not constitute as campaigning.

“Perhaps Puad did not watch the video which is easily available in YouTube. He can ask his special assistant Zahari Sharif who was also there in the briefing.
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“Markom had clearly urged the counsellors to support and campaign for the BN candidate. What Markom did is shameful to Malaysians including teachers and the voters in the Tenang constituency,” said Suhaizan.

Suhaizan also called on Markom himself to resign within 24 hours of being the Education director and stand to contest in the Tenang by-election representing BN as he is also slated to retire soon.

“Perhaps Puad did not watch the video which is easily available in YouTube. He can ask his special assistant Zahari Sharif who was also there in the briefing. Markom had clearly urged the counsellors to support and campaign for the BN candidate.

“What Markom did is shameful to Malaysians including teachers and the voters in the Tenang constitutency,” said Suhaizan.

In the five minute video, Markom explicitly asked teachers to support and campaign for BN.

Colour coding

Among others, Markom instructed teachers to organise motivational programs for pupils, where there parents must be present and interviewed by the “counsellors”.

“During the meeting with parents, you will classify them bsaed on four colours - green, blue, grey and white. Green means hardcore opposition, blue is for BN.

“For grey (fence-sitters) we want you to inform us and try to change them to blue,” he said.

Suhaizan said that it was clear that Markom was abusing the teachers by using them to canvass for votes among the pupils parents .

“I would like to question Puad is the classification of the colours of green, grey, blue and white has anything to do with supporting government policy.

“Isn't using education counsellors to change the political views of the grey voters to be BN supporters (blue) a move to canvas for votes?

“It is clear the briefing held by Markom is not directed at supporting the government but towards  support Umno and BN,” he said.

He adds that Markom had violated Rule 21(1) of the Civil Servant Regulations (Character and Discipline) 1993, where civil servants are barred from political activities of having political affiliations.

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