Malaysian govt threatens employees

Malaysian govt threatens employees

KUALA LUMPUR (Agencies): Moving to curb growing opposition to
Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, the government is threatening to
fire public workers caught at anti-government rallies, a news
report said on Monday.

Abdul Halim Ali, chief secretary to the government, told civil
servants they were required by law to support their government
and would lose their jobs if found at street demonstrations.

"If their unlawful acts result in serious consequences, they
can be sacked," Abdul Halim was quoted as saying in the New
Straits Times. He cited a law that regulates the conduct of
government employees.

Protests have flared in recent weeks in support of dissident
Anwar Ibrahim, who was fired Sept. 2 as deputy premier and
finance minister. He was subsequently arrested after launching a
reform campaign.

Demonstrators have demanded Anwar's release and the ouster of
Mahathir, who has ruled Malaysia for 17 years.

"No one, especially government officers, should ignore or go
against the government's wish to make Malaysia an industrialized
nation or should act in a manner that can disunite society or
split the civil service," Abdul Halim said.

He added that he had not received any reports of civil servant
involvement in the demonstrations, which have turned into massive
weekly affairs in downtown Kuala Lumpur.

At one recent street demonstration, however, government
workers were among the front line of protesters shouting
"Reforms! Reforms!" and "Step down, Mahathir" in defiance of a
blanket police ban on political rallies.

"I work in the government and I don't like my government,"
said a civil servant, who asked to be identified only by his
first name, Mama.

Authorities recently threatened that students caught at the
political rallies would face expulsion in adherence with a
longstanding ban on student involvement in politics.

Meanwhile, the prime minister urged the country to remain
united in the face of its worst economic crisis since
independence.

"We should be thankful because although the country faces
economic difficulties, our lives have not been severely
affected," Mahathir said, adding that Malaysia was not as bad off
as some of its Southeast Asian neighbors, where many people are
unable to buy food, medicine and other necessities.

Mahathir, who was in Tokyo on a five-day visit, made the
remarks in a special message in honor of Deepavali, a Hindu
festival of lights celebrated as a national holiday on Monday.

Mahathir was expected to return on Tuesday.

In another development, supporters of Anwar arrested during
weekend protests have been denied contact with their families and
friends, relatives said on Monday.

About 60 people who wanted to enquire about the detainees were
ordered to leave the Dang Wangi district police station, where
some of the 133 detained Anwar-supporters were believed held on
remand. The rest are held in three other city police stations.

Lee Siew Hwa, of the human rights group Suaram (Voice of the
Malaysian People), said the group condemned the refusal by police
at the station to furnish them with details about the detainees.

The group had brought fresh clothes and food for the
detainees, who were arrested after staging a noisy but peaceful
anti-government protest in downtown Kuala Lumpur in support of
Anwar.