Up To Civil Servants To Interpret 'Kera' (Monkey) Label by the Opposition Candidate Of Johor Baharu.

Chief Secretary to the Government Datuk Seri Dr Ali Hamsa said it was up to civil servants to interpret the word, 'kera' (monkey), with which they were labelled by an opposition candidate.

"Civil servants have feelings. I want civil servants to make their own interpretation," he said when asked to comment on Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Johor Baharu parliamentary constituency candidate General (R) Tan Sri Md Hashim Hussein's labelling of civil servants as 'kera'.

Ali was met by reporters after a gathering with Rumah Iskandar Malaysia residents in Gelang Patah Saturday.

The video in which Md Hashim allegedly made the statement, was believed to have been recorded during his election campaign here and uploaded on Youtube, four days ago, by account owner, mykmujohor, under the title, 'Semua Penjawatan Awam Memang KERA'.

More than 10,500 YouTube users have watched the recording, with many condemning it.

In the 39-second video, Md Hashim allegedly uttered "kakitangan kerajaan" (government employees) was short for "kera dalam jagaan" (monkeys in custody) and they, like himself, when released would run amok and rebel.

On Rumah Iskandar Malaysia, Ali said 880 units had been occupied by middle income tenants, including civil servants.

He said the residents were happy with the houses built by the Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA) and were hoping to purchase them.

"We will make a proposal as soon as possible and discuss it with IRDA," he said.

The four-storey apartment comprising units measuring between 83 sq metres and 111 sq metres each, was rented out to employers working in the Iskandar Malaysia area for between RM360 and RM560 monthly.