The National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP) has called on teachers to focus on teaching and leave politics to the politicians.

“We are teachers, we're supposed to teach, not get involved in politics. Then it'll be good for the country," NUTP secretary-general Harry Tan Huat Hock told Malaysiakini.

He was responding to Education Minister Mahadzir Khalid, who yesterday said five teachers had been slapped with show-cause letters for running down the government.

The move drew criticism from certain quarters, who viewed it as violating the teachers' rights in a democratic nation.

However, Tan argued otherwise.

"We are servants of the government, (which) ever government sitting there (leading the country), we must enforce the policy,” he explained.

Similarly, Cuepacs also defended Mahadzir's call on civil servants who want to discredit the government or promote the opposition to resign.

"As government servants, if we do something against the (civil service rule), action can be taken against us,” said the civil servants' union president Azih Muda.

"This is not a political question, this is a government (related question). We also want to advise public servants to always be alert, to make sure their actions don't go (overboard)," he told Malaysiakini.

Earlier today, chief secretary to the government Ali Hamsa reminded civil servants not to bite the hand that feeds them, and cautioned them against being influenced by lies regarding the government.

Late last year, civil servants were issued a stern warning to stay away from Bersih, a movement urging electoral reform or risk pay cuts or sacking depending on the 'level of participation.'

The government issued a similar notice for the Red Shirt's counter rally against Bersih as well.