Penang deputy chief minister Dr Hilmi Yahaya today warned Umno members not to misuse public properties for personal or party interests.

Hilmi, who is Umno Penang deputy chairperson, said spraying the party logo on properties contributed by government agencies was wrong and action would be taken against those who do this.

"We will investigate. We (Umno) have not given any instruction to our members to do so...unless the party has made contributions," he told reporters outside the Penang state assembly.

He was responding to a letter submitted to him earlier by Penang opposition leader Abdul Rahman Kadir who claimed that Umno abused public properties contributed by state agencies.

In the letter, Abdul Rahman - who is Penanti state assemblyperson - urged Chief Minister Dr Koh Tsu Koon to investigate and act against those involved.

The Parti Rakyat Keadilan (Keadilan) leader accused government officials who abetted in the act as having breached the AkuJanji agreement.

The agreement signed by over 900,000 civil servants since last year prohibits them from being involved in partisan politics.

Abdul Rahman said spraying Umno's logo on public properties has tarnished the name of government agencies such as the local city council.

'Irresponsible act'

He also showed photographs of chairs, lampposts and signboards along Taman Tun Sardon in Bukit Glugor which have Umno's logo with the caption ' kubu kuat ' (fortress).

He said the funding for these properties came from the city council's yearly allocation.

"We are seriously concerned about this, as it is an abuse of public property, a dishonest and irresponsible act," he added.

On July 17, Keadilan criticised three Gerakan appointed city councillors for displaying their names on chairs and tables around Seberang Perai.

Following media reports on the issue, the city council said it had issued a directive to all councillors to stop spraying their names on public properties.

Meanwhile, Abdul Rahman also raised the issue of Umno politicians allegedly using government officers to do party work.

He cited an example where Seberang Perai Tengah District officer Muzamin Mastaki issued invitations to heads of government departments to attend a function organised by Umno Youth in Bukit Mertajam.

The district officer requested the department heads to send 100 representatives and students to participate in the function on Aug 16, attended by Koh and Umno Youth chief Hishamuddin Hussein.

Asked to comment on this, Hilmi defended the district officer, saying the latter made an error in the letter as the function was supposed to be a dinner attended by Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Hilmi said there was nothing wrong with government officers assisting wakil rakyats (people's representatives) or the state but they should not assist party officials.

He said he would inform the officers about the matter and issue a correction soon.