Gerakan apologises over spokesman's 'burdensome civil servants' remark

Gerakan today apologised for the recent remarks made by Penang Gerakan spokesman Mok Kok On about civil servants.

Gerakan secretary-general Mak Kah Keong said the party had referred the case to its disciplinary committee for further action.

"I have given him (Mok) some stern warnings and left the rest to the disciplinary board. If necessary, I will take the case to the (party's) central working committee.

"If there is no good or reasonable explanation (from Mok) in this matter, we will suspend (his membership)," he said at a press conference here today.

Meanwhile, Mak also emphasised that Gerakan disagreed with the view presented in Mok's statement.

"Civil servants are not a burden but the backbone of the country. Every daily activity, every public institution and our lives are indeed closely linked to civil servants who have served the country well," he said.

The media reported that Mok, in a statement on social media, called civil servants a burden and also questioned the government's measures to increase the number of civil servants.

It was also reported that the statement, which was recently deleted, was criticised by various parties, including Bangi MP Syahredzan Johan, who described Mok's words as outrageous and upsetting for civil servants.