PM: Guideline on teachers in politics to be drawn up

BERA: Community Development Department (Kemas) teachers and other staff should not neglect their duties as educators although they are now allowed to be involved in politics, says Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

The Prime Minister said the details on their permitted involvement in politics would be referred to the Rural Development Ministry for approval before a guideline is drawn up.

“We have to wait for the details to see the extent of (political) involvement allowed, whether they can hold a post in a party and attend political events without any action being taken against them.

“We are allowing this, in respecting democratic practices.

“The National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP) has also agreed to it,” the Prime Minister told a press conference after attending a closed-door meeting with staff of the Kemas office here yesterday.

Asked when the details were expected to be announced, Ismail Sabri said it would not take long as the guidelines on teachers’ involvement in politics had already existed before but the practice was barred during the Pakatan Harapan administration.

“Now we will look into the guidelines again and do some improvements if needed. This, we leave to Kemas,” Bernama reported him saying.

With the latest move, the Prime Minister said hopefully, it would prevent cases where some women leaders of a political party had to resign from their posts when disallowed from being involved in politics because of them being attached to Kemas.

On Saturday, Ismail Sabri announced that political involvement was allowed for Kemas teachers and staff, resulting in the restriction circular to be null and void.