ALOR STAR: Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor has reminded political appointees in the federal government that they have no business meddling in government administrative affairs.
The Kedah menteri besar reminded certain political appointees in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) that the matter is clearly stated in the Federal Constitution.
"Therefore, politicians and political officers must understand that the officers that are bound in law are officers that are gazetted, referring to PTDs (diplomatic administrative officers), if in Kedah, the KSC (Kedah Civil Servants).
"Meaning, letters from political secretaries to government officers do not carry any weight, (and therefore) not bound by law. They have to understand this because political appointees are clouded by their political bias.
"That is a fundamental matter in governing. If they don't understand that, the government will be in trouble," he told reporters after the conclusion of the state assembly meeting today.
Checks by the New Straits Times showed that Article 43C of the Federal Constitution states that a political secretary is assigned for a minister and is subjected to carry out duties that are decided by a minister.
"The duty and responsibility of the political secretary should be focusing on politically-oriented duties," the article says.
Sanusi also reminded political appointees at the federal level to be professional and to understand the true concept of federalism.
"There are some federal officers who are acting arrogantly, because they think that the federal government is superior and the states are inferior.
"They should not forget that if the states did not surrender power to form Malaysia, there would be no federal (government). They must understand that.
"Don't think that the others (the states) can be simple directed (to do something), dictated to at their (federal officers') whims and fancies... it can't be that way. All parties in the Malaysian federation have rights, roles and the respective authority that should be complied with and respected. That is my view," he said.
Yesterday, Sanusi criticised certain political appointees in Prime Minister's Office and Foreign Ministry for their unprofessional conduct during Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's recent visit to Sadao and Bukit Kayu Hitam.
Sanusi was reported as claiming that the interventions of these "little Napoleans" had affected the running of the events which had involved Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin on Monday.
He had said Anwar should be praised for taking a proactive approach in resolving issues at the Malaysia-Thailand border, but the same could not be said of certain officers.
Sanusi claimed that while the invitation process was done by PTD officers in a proper manner, things got messy when there were interventions by the political appointees.
