Civil servants who are pro-opposition should resign rather than be traitors to the government, the Dewan Rakyat heard today.

Parliamentary secretary in the Prime Minister's Department Noh Omar said the government is satisfied with the civil service as it has contributed much to the development of the country.

Noh said if civil servants were not sincere or did not support the government, then many government projects would have failed.

"If there are such people, please resign instead of being traitors to the government," he said.

Noh was responding to a question posed by Badrul Hisham Abdul Aziz (BN - Hulu Langat) on whether there are pro-opposition government officers and staff who have sabotaged and delayed government projects.

Badrul also wanted to know if any action would be taken against such personnel.

"There are no reports yet but those who are found to be delaying and sabotaging government projects because they are pro-opposition will be dealt with disciplinary action," said Noh.

Badrul insisted that such cases exist despite the absence of reports and requested the home affairs ministry to take a more serious action against such personnel.

PAS as example

Noh, who is also the Tanjung Karang MP, replied that those who sabotaged the government's efforts will either be demoted or have their services terminated.

He cited the example of the changes made by the Terengganu PAS government to the civil service, claiming that he has proof that the civil servants were dismissed or transferred because they were pro-Umno.

Civil servants in Terengganu have also been warned that they will be transferred out if they support the federal government, Noh said.

"They used the Official Secrets Act to frighten civil servants from revealing official documents. This is an Act the opposition despised but when they are in power, they also use it," he said, adding that if the opposition were in power, they would be more tyrannical (malah lebih kejam lagi).

"It goes to show that no matter which government it is, it will always want its civil servants to be obedient to the government," he added.

Noh also alleged that PAS had ordered an Umno operations centre to be locked up during the recent Lunas by election.

Teachers in politics

Saupi Daud (Keadilan - Tanah Merah) then stood up to accuse Noh of seizing the opportunity to criticise PAS.

"What a long statement even though you said that there were no reports. Are you simply taking the opportunity (to criticise PAS)?" he asked Noh.

Saupi added that although there are civil servants (in Kelantan and Terengganu) who delay and sabotage development projects undertaken by the state government, no action has been taken against them.

He said there are teachers who are Umno members, who have neglected their classes and students by attending to party matters.

In reply, Noh repeated that while he has no reports of civil servants sabotaging government projects, he has proof of the Terengganu government's discriminatory action against pro-Umno civil servants.

He said it cannot be denied that many teachers are pro-opposition and reminded all that teachers cannot take part in politics.

He added that any teacher found to be involved in politics should be reported to the authorities.