Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad today announced that it will be compulsory for cabinet ministers to sign the 'I Pledge' contracts, proclaiming their loyalty to the government.

"It will be compulsory and there is no question of encouraging [them to sign]," Mahathir told reporters today.

"They must [sign]. Although I have [made] this decision public and have yet to discuss it with cabinet, it is my duty to persuade them that they must sign," he said.

Earlier in a speech to civil servants during the Finance Ministry's 'Meet the Clients Day', he stated that everyone from the director-general of various departments to office assistants is required to sign the 'I Pledge' contracts, and ministers are no exception.

"I think it is time to for the ministers to sign the 'I Pledge' letters and declare their loyalty to the country and with that we can have civil servants that are committed to serving the country," he said.

However, he did not specify a time frame for the ministers.

Three weeks ago, Mahathir officiated an 'I Pledge' signing ceremony with high-ranking government officials. The campaign to put the loyalty of government servants onto paper has also been extended to students and academics from public institutions. They have up to March 1 to comply.

Signs of dissent

The exercise was a reaction to reports last year that civil servants were beginning to show dissent towards the Barisan Nasional government and when university academics and students spoke out against government policies.

When asked, Mahathir dismissed the notion that the move to include cabinet ministers was to control infighting among coalition members of the BN.

"Don't make all kinds of accusations like that. We want to improve the (civil) service and this is one way of doing so," he said.

BN coalition member MCA is racked with internal strife, torn between its top two leaders whose differences came to the fore when the party acquired majority shares in Nanyang Press Holdings despite strong public objection.

The party is now split between president Dr Ling Liong Sik's 'Team A' backed by vice-presidents Ong Ka Ting and Dr Fong Chan Onn and party deputy Lim Ah Lek's 'Team B' backed by vice-presidents Chua Jui Meng and Chan Kong Choy, and Youth chief Ong Tee Keat.