Anulae wants action against Jeff Ooi over 'kucing kurap' remark

The Amalgamated National Union of Local Authorities Employees (Anulae) wants the government to take stern action, including the use of the Sedition Act, on Jelutong MP Jeff Ooi Chuan Aun for labelling civil servants as 'kucing kurap' or mangy cat.

Anulae president Azih Muda said Ooi's statement had angered the people, especially civil servants, which could lead to unrest, apart from being an insult which could affect the morale of civil servants.

He said he and about 30 Anulae members would lodge a report at the Dang Wangi police headquarters.

"This is (a) sensitive (matter)...anything can happen. He tried to inflame the anger of the people and sow the seeds of enemity," he told reporters after chairing a Special Anulae Exco Meeting here Wednesday.

Recently, Ooi allegedly called several Penang Municipality Council (MPPP) officers 'kucing kurap' during a visit to the Jelutong market as he wanted to deal only with their heads of department who were absent at the time.

Azih said Anulae had handed a memorandum on the matter to Ooi and Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, as well as Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Dr Ali Hamsa, Public Services Department director-general Tan Sri Mohamad Zabidi Zainal and Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Services (Cuepacs) president Datuk Omar Osman.

Among the contents of the memorandum included a demand for Ooi to withdraw his statement and apologise to MPPP employees, and that he should respect civil servants, regardless of their political affiliations.

He said if there was no reply or apology from Ooi before Dec 10, Anulae would hold a demonstration in Penang.

Meanwhile, the Penang chapter of Anulae has directed MPPP employees to boycott all site visits and meetings involving Ooi, who is chief of staff at the Chief Minister's Office.