PUTRAJAYA: The Public Service Department (PSD) will take severe disciplinary action including termination and salary deduction against civil servants who participate in either the Bersih 5.0 or Red Shirts rally this Saturday.

Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Dr Ali Hamsa said the penalty will vary, depending on their level of involvement in the illegal assemblies.

“Our action will depend on how far are they involved. If a civil servant serves as a ‘head’ in the rallies or is caught creating a stir or chaos, severe action will be meted out. We will have to gauge the seriousness," he told reporters today.

He was speaking to reporters after launching the Wives of Civil Servants and Women Civil Servants Association (Puspanita) fourth annual general meeting here.

Police can act on the civil servants’ criminal wrongdoings while the PSD will also take disciplinary action, Ali said.

Asked how PSD plans to identify civil servants who are involved, he said this would usually be done via pictures played up in the news or social media.

“If pictures of the civil servants are played up in the news, then we have no choice but to terminate them. “We also have received complaints but then again, complaints must come with valid proof," he added.

Admitting that there have been participation by government staff in previous rallies, he said there was no proof for the authorities to take action against them.

“We did not have proof on their involvement previously, however the PSD had cautioned them,” he said.

Ali said civil servants should realise that they should not get involved in illegal rallies. 

Source : New Straits Times