Persatuan Hindraf Malaysia is disappointed by the attitude of chief secretary to the government Ali Hamsa in issuing a veiled threat on civil servants and retirees from the civil service.

Yesterday the chief secretary was reported to have said the following during a visit to the Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital, “I want to advise all civil servants to not get involved in spreading anything or making any comments that could be construed under the General Orders as tarnishing the image of the public sector or that goes against the Official Secrets Act (OSA)”

He said those who had grouses should go through the proper channels and those who wished to go against the establishment should take the “respectable” way out and quit.

“Allow those who wish to support the government and are grateful for the opportunity, to take your place instead.”

As a chief secretary, he should remember this power and authority given to him is not to act in a dictatorial manner like the elites in the bureaucracy based on party partisanship.

It is irresponsible of him to issue such a statement without having the ability to discharge his responsibility and obligation to the society as the head of the public services in a responsible and just manner.

The executive position he holds should go through an effective parliamentary process, and be independent and pro-people and public in a bipartisan manner.

His blanket threat appears to border on a partisan manner as all civil servants have their freedom to voice their opinion on the dissatisfaction regarding the modus operandi of the current government.

As opposed to guiding the civil service to be committed to exercise courage, to take a position, to speak objectively and take responsibility against political authorities such as the current government, he appears to be speaking on behalf of elite partisan bureaucrats who naturally do not represent bulk of the civil servants.

Public servants play an important role in the development of the society and gagging them from voicing their frustration to reduce the hardship and harassment to the public at the hands of government functionaries is totally unacceptable.

Critical reflection on ethics, actions and modus operandi of the government agencies through the lenses of the public servants, whether they are currently in employment or retired, should be heeded and taken in a constructive manner as opposed to threatening them.

The threat by him clearly crosses the boundary against the public servants as it appears they are expected to toe the line for the interests of the current government in a partisan manner and maintain the monopoly of bureaucratic elites.

We would like to remind the chief secretary that public servants while discharging their responsibilities for the general public need to have equal access to their human and social needs, receive protection for their life and property, and enjoy their freedom of movement, association and expression.

It is totally an unwise move by the chief secretary to throw a blanket threat to the current and former public servants.

P WAYTHAMOORTHY is chairperson of Persatuan Hindraf Malaysia.