KUALA LUMPUR, June 10 ― Putrajaya need not inculcate teachers into support Barisan Nasional (BN) as civil servants are already loyal to the ruling coalition, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin told Parliament today.
Muhyiddin, who is also education minister, was denying claims that the teaching profession was being used as a platform to cultivate future Barisan Nasional (BN) voters.
“Teachers are professionals and understand their roles and responsibilities to school, country hence I don't think there is a need to convince them to support BN because as government officers they are usually loyal to the government,” he said.
Muhyiddin added that civil servants' loyalty towards the government went beyond the schools and into all corners of the administration, rendering it moot to propagandise the group.
“For me, I have no doubts about their loyalty,” he said.
Muhyiddin added BN has ensured the welfare of teachers is protected, pointing out some 2,380 headmasters, 85,012 teachers and 16,843 school staff had collectively enjoyed RM804.9 million in incentives under the “New Deal” merit-based pay structure system last year alone.
“This shows the government is committed to upholding the teaching profession and improving the nation's education quality,” the minster commented on the matter.
Last week, Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor had urged teachers to return to politics and support BN.
He admitted that a past ruling barring teachers from politics was a mistake.
Critics slammed the statement and said that teachers should be allowed to support any political parties without fearing persecution from the government.
