Zahid: Government business cannot stop just because political temperature rises

PUTRAJAYA – Government business cannot come to a halt simply because the political temperature has risen, and the Unity Government's administration must continue with the people's interests as its priority.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said political rivalry at state level would not affect the stability of the Unity Government at the federal level, so long as the mandate and the understanding behind the government's formation continued to be respected.

"Whatever the questions may be, political rivalry at state level will never affect the stability of the Unity Government at the federal level," he said when speaking at the Rural and Regional Development Ministry (KKDW) monthly assembly here today.

Ahmad Zahid said current political developments, particularly after the Johor and Negeri Sembilan state elections, may raise questions among civil servants about the standing of the Unity Government and the direction of the administration.

He said civil servants might be wondering whether political changes at state level would affect policies, programmes and projects currently being implemented by the government.

"The Unity Government today was formed on the basis of a clear understanding and agreement for it to remain until Parliament is dissolved.

"So as long as no dissolution takes place, the federal government will continue to function, the administration will continue and every trust given by the people will be carried out as usual," he said.

He stressed that politicians and civil servants must remain professional by not mixing political matters with administration.

"No politicking. We are professional politicians and administrators, and we will never mix politics and administration in the same basket," he said.

Ahmad Zahid said that in a democracy, there was nothing wrong with civil servants seeking to understand and obtain explanations about current political developments in the country.

He cited countries such as Australia and Japan, where political cooperation exists at national level while the parties involved still take differing approaches at certain levels.

Cooperation within a government, he said, did not mean all parties had to dissolve their respective political identities; political autonomy still existed as long as commitments to the government's formation agreement were honoured.

"In the context of the government today, once the mandate has been given and the government formed, administrative responsibility must override all political differences.

"There must be a dividing line on political differences. At state level we may differ in opinion, but when carrying out the administration at federal level, we must be of one mind, one feeling and one purpose," he said.