'Don't drag civil service into your narrow political agenda', Sasha Lyna tells Anwar

SHAH ALAM - Bersatu urges Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to stop putting the civil service in a quandary and narrowing the political agenda.

Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) and Constitution Bureau deputy chairman Sasha Lyna Abdul Latif said Anwar should be reminded of the civil service's roles and functions and not drag the civil service into political matters or disputes.

"It was inappropriate, unnecessary, and contrary to civil service neutrality for the Prime Minister to drag the Chief Secretary into what is an obvious political matter or dispute.

"It is retrograde to good and efficient administration to compromise civil service impartiality in any manner whatsoever.

As a senior political leader with years of government experience, Anwar should have known better than to do so," she said in a statement today.

She was referring to Anwar's statement at a book launch yesterday, where he said the Chief Secretary Tan Sri Zuki Ali can 'attest' to the fact that DAP has never questioned programmes for Malays and Islam as he (Zuki Ali) attends all the Cabinet Meetings as the meetings’ secretary.

Sasha further said that Anwar has certainly put the 'number one' man in the civil service in a very awkward and tight position.

"Tan Sri Zuki is the highest-ranking post in the civil service, and as the Chief Secretary, he is also to attend the Cabinet Meetings as secretary of the meeting.

"A chief secretary to the government not only serves the government of the day, but he is also the 'boss' to all the 1.7 million civil servants in Malaysia," she added.

Therefore, Sasha stressed that the Prime Minister, of all people, must not undermine such things.

"All this is very important to uphold as the civil service serves the government of the day irrespective of political persuasion.

"For example, during Tan Sri Zuki’s tenure, he has served under former prime ministers, namely Tan Sri Muhyiddin, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri, and currently Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

"Since the chief secretary must also remain apolitical at all times and at the same time be the voice and reason of our civil service, the Prime Minister should never have named him to attest to his narrow political agenda," she reasoned.

Sasha further said that the civil service serves as administrators of the government and must not be used as political tools in pursuing any political agenda.