Madani gov't trolled for using KSN to ban civil servants from joining 'Turun Anwar' rally

Focus Malaysia

4 days ago

DETRACTORS have questioned the rationale behind the call for civil servants to stay away from this Saturday's (July 26) PAS-inspired 'Turun Anwar' rally.
This is because civil servants must adhere to the pledge enshrined in the Rukun Negara, particularly by upholding the principle of loyalty to king and country, according to Chief Secretary to the Government (KSN) Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar.
'They cannot attend. Civil servants recite the pledge every day, every week,' justified Shamsul who succeeded Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali on Aug 10 last year.
'Have they forgotten? Be loyal to the king and country,' he said after launching the Association of Former Students of Mara Junior Science Colleges (ANSARA) Sports Carnival 2025 in Putrajaya yesterday (July 20).
While Shamsul did not specify if the nature of disciplinary action to be taken on errant civil servants, a majority of commenters to the NST Online Facebook post of Shamsul's message felt that it is unbecoming of the Madani government to even use the KSN as its protective shield.
After all, they recounted that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had in fact instigated civil servants to take to the streets to protest against injustice inflicted on him, notably his sacking as deputy PM following which the Reformasi movement was born.
After all. Saturday is an off day to most civil servants, henceforth it is their right to decide what they wish to do during their spare time so long as their action does not disrupt their workflow.
Therefore, Shamsul's directive is deemed as both 'army twisting method and double standard'. As a learned commenter put it, the KSU cannot deny the basic rights and freedom of all citizens as enshrined in the Federal Constitution, namely the right to free speech and the right to assemble and association.
'(The) KSU is clearly fear mongering and threatening civil servants,' he attested.
As a commenter aptly pointed out, the Madani government has nothing to fear if it is doing a good job 'unless this Madani (government) is so unstable that it feared that the opposition might influence their (civil servants) support towards this government'.
Another contended that 'a democracy would not order such a thing but civil servants can be reminded that action can be taken against them if their behaviour during such a rally led to arrest and/or detention'.
In fact, a commenter opined that civil servants are duty-bound 'to speak out if the government is harming the country'.
The bottom-line as one commenter noted, 'public sector workers will STILL go to work tomorrow if the government falls or a new government comes in'.
As 'they work for the country, the King and not a POLITICAL PARTY', he urged PMX 'not to be arrogant but to understand hardship of sorts the rakyst are experiencing from Perlis to Sabah'. – July 21, 2025
Editor's Note: A recent Utusan Malaysia report citing Perikatan Nasional (PN) Youth Chief Afnan Hamimi Taib Azamudden has estimated a turnout of 300,000 (up from 50,000) at the 'Turun Anwar' rally slated to be held at Dataran Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur this Saturday (July 26).
This is in stark contrast to Kuala Lumpur Acting Police Chief Datuk Mohamed Usuf Jan Mohamad who previously expected 10,000 to 15,000 people to attend.
He nevertheless confirmed that the organisers have informed the Dang Wangi district police headquarters about the rally following which some 2,000 officers and personnel will be deployed to ensure the rally runs smoothly and to safeguard the participants and the public.
Main image credit: Utusan Malaysia