DAP today welcomed the assurance given by prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad last Saturday that the government would not take any action against civil servants who supported the opposition parties.

DAP secretary-general Kerk Kim Hock, in a statement welcoming Dr Mahathir's assurance when winding up the 54th Umno General Assembly, hoped the same guarantee could be extended to all citizens, not just civil servants, who have not supported the Barisan Nasional.

"Mahathir should mean what he says and immediately direct the Malacca chief minister Mohd Ali Rustam to rescind all decisions which he had carried out against civil servants and citizens who have been alleged to be pro-opposition supporters and sympathisers," he added.

In early March, Ali announced that the state government had directed that all its departments and agencies to terminate the contracts of their panel doctors and lawyers who were alleged to be aligned with the opposition ("[#1]Public service should not be politicised[/#]", March 7).

He had also withdrawn RM40million from two banks in Malacca which he alleged were staffed by pro-oposition supporters who wore opposition parties' badges at work.

While Ali's actions helped him to win the highest number of votes to the Umno Supreme Council, Ali must be told that "he has become a threat to democracy and national unity with such brand of divisive and vindictive politics," Kerk said.

Kerk also referred to Ali's statement yesterday openly disagreeing with the Umno president Mahathir's readiness (also expressed at the recent Umno assembly) to hold discussions ( muzakarah ) with PAS, which showed how his (Ali's) victory "has gone into his head".