KUALA LUMPUR, May 19 — A minister denied a PKR lawmaker’s claim today that civil servants do not get promoted for having different political beliefs from the Barisan Nasional government.

Sungai Petani MP Datuk Johari Abdul told Parliament during Question Time in Parliament that he understands there are officers who are eligible for promotions but are not accepted by their “political masters”.

“The question of whether eligible officers are not promoted because of their political masters… does this happen in Selangor, Penang or Kelantan?

“Of course your answer is no, so our answer is an even bigger no,” Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim said in response, citing states controlled by Pakatan Rakyat.

“Promotions are based on merit and potential. If what you said does happen, you must inform me so that appropriate action can be taken,” he added.

Shahidan also said there are no gender issues in hiring or promotions in the public sector, pointing out that there are many female civil servants as well as women secretaries-general.