In an unprecedented about-turn, the umbrella body to some 850,000 civil servants, Cuepacs, today agreed to a pledge of good conduct prepared by the government starting next year.

Cuepacs president N Siva Subramaniam said the body had accepted the controversial requirement by the government with conditions.

The conditions are amendments to two clauses in the pledge which state that civil servants cannot use outside forces in their decision-making and that civil servants can be sacked if they do not abide by the commitment pledge.

"It (the first clause) should read that civil servants cannot use outside forces in their decision-making unless the outside forces are trade union bodies," Bernama quoted the union president as saying.

On the second clause, Siva said, "We do not want the word 'sacked', we would like the word to be replaced with 'appropriate action' instead."

He added for the next three months, Cuepacs leaders and their some 130 affiliates will go on nationwide road-shows to explain the important points of the pledge to their members.

Members will be given three months from Jan 1 next year to sign the 'civil servants commitment pledge'.

However, he did not elaborate on what will happen to those who refuse to sign the agreement.

'Poisoning of the minds'

On Oct 8, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad announced a requirement for all civil servants along with teachers, university lecturers and students to sign a pledge of good conduct.

The premier said the move was to check "poisoning of the minds" of the relevant parties so that they will stick to their role: students to gain knowledge and not indulge in anti-government activities while civil servants will perform professionally in discharging their duties.

The announcement sparked a volley of protest from those affected by the new ruling, including Cuepacs and various civil groups.

Siva said today he was happy with the union's affiliates who showed their "maturity" and did not oppose the pledge after an explanation on the importance of the pledge was given.

He said the issue should not be politicised as the public sector had a duty to be loyal to the government of the day.

There is nothing wrong in signing the pledge as it is a pledge to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and not to any political party, he added.

Siva also said the pledge was meant more for department heads who make important decisions such as awarding of tenders, therefore lower ranking employees need not worry about signing it.

According to Bernama, Cuepacs affiliates met officials from the Public Service Department yesterday to get a better picture of the country's "security situation".

They were later briefed by National Economic Action Council executive director Mustapa Mohamed on the country's economic condition as well.

"After listening to the explanation we pledged that civil servants in the country will do whatever they can to help the nation maintain peace and help boost the economy," said Siva.

'A joke'

Meanwhile, PRM president Dr Syed Husin Ali when contacted described the pledge as a "coercion" by the government on civil servants which can harm the country's democracy.

"There is nothing wrong for civil servants to choose which parties they want to support as long as they do not let politics stand in their course of duties," he said.

He also questioned the double-standards practised by the government in prohibiting civil servants from getting involved in opposition parties but not Umno.

There should be a similar pledge of good conduct for "corrupt politicians" before the civil servants are made to sign the document, he added.

On Cuepacs' decision to support the pledge despite its initial objection, Syed Husin said, "It is a joke. Maybe some union leaders have been bought over by the government."

DAP national chairman Lim Kit Siang told malaysiakini the pledge should be something that civil servants are comfortable with before they sign it.

"After the Sept 11 incident, the government is more inclined to exploiting the situation for greater power than dealing with the general grievances.

"The demand for a pledge coupled with existing punitive measures is a matter of grave concern," he said.