Tun M questions loyalty of govt officers who campaigned for BN in GE14 (Updated)

PETALING JAYA: Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has questioned the loyalty of several government officers who had openly campaigned for the Barisan Nasional (BN) during the 14th General Election.
"There were numerous officers who were seen wearing the blue uniform of BN and campaigned for them during GE.
"The government has doubts about their loyalty as we need their cooperation to make things work for the people especially in implementing Pakatan Harapan's (PH) policies," he told reporters after chairing the PH presidential council meeting at PPBM headquarters, here today.
The meeting was also the first to be participated by PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim after being released from prison two weeks ago.
While government officers are free to vote for whichever party that suits them, Mahathir said they should execute the policies of the government of the day and not be partisan about it.
"There are numerous people but I have not had the time to count them," he replied cheekily when asked how many government officers were found to be loyal to BN.
While Mahathir stressed that he would not take disciplinary actions against them, he said he needed to know where their loyalties lay.
"We already know that there are 17,000 political appointees from the Opposition. We had to take action because their positions were not needed as it was created purely to give work to party members," he said.
However, Mahathir said beyond the political appointees, there were also normal government officers who have tainted themselves by openly campaigning for BN.
"We hope that they will change their attitude and become neutral again, because they have to carry out the policies and instructions of the government," he added.
On another matter, Mahathir said the approval of the RM30 billion Kedah City project in Langkawi is up to the state government.
"Anyone can invest in Langkawi if they have the money so it is up to the state government to approve it or not.
"This is a project in the state of Kedah so it will be dealt with by the state," he said.
His comments came after renowned developer Tan Sri Ting Pek Khiin made a comeback in the development industry with plans to develop the Langkawi New City project.
The project, which is expected to cost RM30 billion, will be located on 81ha of reclaimed land off the west side of the main island.