He said there was no need to issue a formal circular barring civil servants from attending, as he believes they are aware of their responsibilities and the limits of their roles.

“They must comply with certain instructions from time to time, whether it is about involvement in politics, offensive comments and others. I believe the civil service code is clear on this,” he told reporters after launching a book festival today.

On Sunday, the chief secretary to the government said it was inappropriate for civil servants to take part in the rally “because the action is not in accordance with the principle of loyalty to king and country”. The Attorney-General’s Chambers said on Wednesday there is a legal basis for the directive.

Amirudin’s comments came in response to a question on whether Selangor civil servants who take part in the rally would face disciplinary action.

“That’s up to the department heads. It’s not under my jurisdiction,” he said, adding that poor weather and health concerns could also prevent some civil servants from joining the event.

Tomorrow’s protest at Dataran Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur, will be the first mass rally directly targeting Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, with organisers expecting a turnout of over 100,000 people, although police have estimated a crowd of 10,000 to 15,000 people.