Earlier, Penang Gerakan posted an image on its Facebook page with a quote attributed to Mok Kok On, from the party’s Sungai Pinang division, stating that the current condition of the civil service was of great concern.

The post was swiftly deleted but not before netizens began circulating screenshots of the post.

Gerakan secretary-general Mah Kah Keong held a press conference to apologise for the statement and said that neither Gerakan nor Perikatan Nasional agreed with the comment on the civil service.

“Civil servants are not a burden to the nation, they are the backbone of the nation.” he said.

Mah also apologised to coalition partners PAS and Bersatu, who were also on the receiving end of brickbats over the statement by Mok, who was listed as the spokesman for Gerakan in the Sungai Pinang state constituency, in the now-deleted post.

He added that the party will take disciplinary action against Mok and warned all Gerakan members to be mindful when issuing statements.