Teachers actively promoting the opposition or 'discrediting the government' have been advised to resign from the civil service.

Education Minister Mahdzir Khalid said all civil servants should realise that they are bound by the rules established in the General Orders and criticising to the point of defaming was not right.

"If he or she is still a teacher and then climbs the stage to slam the government, give lectures, and then adds defamatory elements, I would like to remind him or her that it would be better to leave the profession.

"If he or she does this while being in the civil service... I do not feel it's healthy.

"I am not saying we are closing the doors of democracy but government servants are subject to the (terms of) civil service, there are circulars and general orders," he said.

He was speaking to the press after a dialogue session with teachers about the ministry's major policies at Taman Tamadun Islam in Kuala Terengganu.

Mahdzir said only a small number of the 435,000 teachers across the country were actively involved in such activities and the government was monitoring the situation.

"I think the teachers are not supporting the opposition.. but they are expressing dissatisfaction with their careers towards the government to correct the matter, and in response to the dissatisfaction... the government will monitor to fix it.

"The government will always try to help support the teachers. I advise them not to go overboard. Even if they want to spread something, they should think first," he added.

- Bernama