Malacca CM''s move a discrimination against professionals
Suffian Abdul RahmanPublished: Apr 17, 2001 3:38 AM | Updated: Jan 29, 2008 6:21 PM
The move by Malacca state government to stop engaging the services of professionals who are opposition members has been described as "discriminatory and unacceptable".
The Star today reported that Malacca Chief Minister Mohd Ali Rustam had said that doctors who were known to be opposition members would be removed from government panel clinics and that opposition-linked lawyers, architects and other professionals would also have their services terminated.
He had also indicated that government officers who worked against the state administration would be transferred out.
"The Chief Minister is clearly putting the welfare of his party above the welfare of the people of Malacca," said Charles Santiago, spokesperson for the People''s Manifesto Initiative.
According to Charles, this is a clear case of victimisation and discrimination, and is inconsistent with the demands of a progressive society.
"He (Rustam) is sending out the wrong message, as this is an outdated idea. If people are sacked or transferred out due to their political leanings, then it creates an inefficient and unfavourable environment within the government," he said.
"This is cronyism at the state level, and is reinstalling the politics of patronage. It is irresponsible to put one''s own interests above everything else," said Charles.
Meanwhile, PRM president Dr Syed Husin Ali described Ali Rustam''s actions as "stupid and unfair." He said there was no basis to punish people because of their political affiliations.
Syed Husin said that this implied that government servants had to declare their political affiliations.
"If a sizeable section or the majority of the civil servants were opposition members, what would that leave us...transfer all of them out?"
Syed Husin envisaged that the next stage of such discriminatory action would result in the Chief Minister demanding not merely loyalty to the party in government, but also to its leaders.
"It will lead to a situation when the Chief Minister will only reward his cronies with state government projects and contracts, and only government servants who toe the line would be promoted," he added.
The Star today reported that Malacca Chief Minister Mohd Ali Rustam had said that doctors who were known to be opposition members would be removed from government panel clinics and that opposition-linked lawyers, architects and other professionals would also have their services terminated.
He had also indicated that government officers who worked against the state administration would be transferred out.
"The Chief Minister is clearly putting the welfare of his party above the welfare of the people of Malacca," said Charles Santiago, spokesperson for the People''s Manifesto Initiative.
According to Charles, this is a clear case of victimisation and discrimination, and is inconsistent with the demands of a progressive society.
"He (Rustam) is sending out the wrong message, as this is an outdated idea. If people are sacked or transferred out due to their political leanings, then it creates an inefficient and unfavourable environment within the government," he said.
"This is cronyism at the state level, and is reinstalling the politics of patronage. It is irresponsible to put one''s own interests above everything else," said Charles.
Meanwhile, PRM president Dr Syed Husin Ali described Ali Rustam''s actions as "stupid and unfair." He said there was no basis to punish people because of their political affiliations.
Syed Husin said that this implied that government servants had to declare their political affiliations.
"If a sizeable section or the majority of the civil servants were opposition members, what would that leave us...transfer all of them out?"
Syed Husin envisaged that the next stage of such discriminatory action would result in the Chief Minister demanding not merely loyalty to the party in government, but also to its leaders.
"It will lead to a situation when the Chief Minister will only reward his cronies with state government projects and contracts, and only government servants who toe the line would be promoted," he added.
View Comments0