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.