Chapter 1 – Report of the Policy, Law and Complaints Group (b) Transfer and Termination of Services of Teachers based on Political Affiliation Representatives of PENDIDIK led by Normala Sudirman submitted a memorandum to the Commissioner Professor Emeritus Dato’ Dr. Mahmood Zuhdi Abdul Majid. In 2015, the Commission received two memoranda from Persatuan Gerakan Kebangkitan Pendidik Kebangsaan (PENDIDIK) regarding disciplinary actions taken against teachers, allegedly on the basis of their political affiliation. The issues highlighted in the memoranda were as follows: (i) Teachers have been transferred out of schools, as a form of punishment, for supporting rival political parties in the general election. Nonetheless, to cover up the ulterior motive, the letters of transfer stated that the transfers were made due to “service requirements”. (ii) Disciplinary actions have been taken against teachers for expressing support for political parties by wearing t-shirts with a political party’s logo, assisting in a political party’s election campaign, and waving the flag of a political party. Though these activities were carried out during their non-teaching hours and out of school compounds, the teachers were said to have breached the Public Officers (Conduct and Discipline) Regulations 199341 and hence were punished with forfeiture of emoluments and reduction of salary. 41 Regulation 21 of the Public Officers (Conduct and Discipline) Regulations 1993: (1) Except as provided in sub-rule (3), an officer in the Senior Management and Professional Management Group is prohibited from taking an active role in political activities or wearing symbol of a political party, and in particular he shall not(a) make such a public statement either orally or in writing, giving a biased view on any matter between the political parties; (b) publish or circulate books, articles or brochures stating his partisan views or the views of others, on any matter in relating to any political party; (c) Engage in canvassing in votes for any candidate in a general election, by-election, or elections to any office in any political party; (d) Act as an election agent or polling agent or in any capacity or on behalf of a candidate of an election for the Parliament or of any State Assembly; (e) Compete for any post in any political party; or 85 BOOK-ANR2016-01-latest.indb 85 08/04/2016 3:32 PM