Dr M: Civil servants must be neutral, serve people and country

PUTRAJAYA: Civil servants must take a neutral stand and respect the decision of the people's choice of government, says the Prime Minister.

Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said they must remain neutral and serve even if their political affiliation is not the same as the people's choice.

"We must adhere to the rakyat's choice. Politics aside, we are here to serve the people and the country.

"It's important that we do this to the best of our ability because the nation's progress depends on how the civil service performs, " he said at a gathering with civil servants on Tuesday (April 30).

Dr Mahathir also reminded civil servants to reject corruption, which he said was the cause of the downfall of many governments.

"This should not happen to Malaysia," he said.

He cited several examples where political parties no longer existed, even though they were the ones that fought for their countries' independence.

Dr Mahathir said the people supported these parties because they shared a common aspiration, which was to gain independence.

"However, after gaining independence these parties lost in elections because of abuses of power and corruption," he said.

According to Dr Mahathir, the Pakatan Harapan government would continue with its agenda to fight corruption, even though support for the coalition had dipped post-election.

The Prime Minister said was aware that some civil servants who previously had an "extra income" were disappointed as they no longer could earn a side income from corruption.

"Some may feel that a kleptocratic government is better than a democratic government.

"That's why support for the Pakatan government and also for myself has dropped. But this will not deter us from continuing the good fight, " he said.