by Jocob Achoi
KUCHING: Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was just trying to cool the situation down when he said Pakatan Rakyat (PR) had scrapped its intention to reduce the number of civil servants if it ruled the country.
Assistant Minister of Youth Development and Assistant Minister of Housing Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said civil servants were very angry with the proposal by DAP publicity secretary Tony Pua, and Anwar was just trying to cool them down.
“When he (Anwar) disagreed with the proposal, it is just to cool down the anger of the civil servants towards DAP and PR,” Abdul Karim said when contacted yesterday.
He was asked on Anwar’s online comment on Tuesday that PR had scrapped the proposal to reduce the number of the 1.2 million civil servants if it wins the general election, as earlier proposed by Pua.
Abdul Karim, who is chief political secretary to the Chief Minister, said DAP’s contention to reduce the number of civil servants was an insult to all civil servants, be they at the federal or state levels.
The proposal, Abdul Karim said, also reflected how ignorant DAP was about the role of the civil servants in transforming the country to become vibrant.
“Bumiputeras in the civil service should be able to see DAP’s real agenda. They just don’t have any love for the Bumiputeras,” the Asajaya assemblyman said.
Barisan Nasional (BN) secretary general Datuk Dr Stephen Rundi said the contradicting statements by Anwar and Pua indicated “the nature of their uncertain
future undertakings and collaboration”.
“To me, this is one of the few different opinions that surface from PR leaders and I believe there will be more contradicting opinions in the future,” Dr Rundi said when contacted.
The Assistant Minister of Public Utilities (Electricity and Telecommunications) also said the statement reflected how low PR thought of civil servants, adding that civil servants had done so much to bring the country to what it was today.
Land Development Minister Tan Sri Dr James Masing said he was not surprised at the contradicting statements by Anwar and Pua, adding that differences in opinion would always happen as they seem to politicise every policy.
“I just hope Malaysians will see through all these before casting their votes,” the Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) president said.
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