Thursday, July 22, 2010

The civil service must be impartial - How true but can they?

July 22, 2010

JULY 22 — It is unfortunate that the country’s top civil servant chooses not to tell the difference between a political party and a government function.

Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan asked today if it would be wrong for civil servants to attend programmes organised by Lim Guan Eng, as the latter was the DAP secretary-general.

This question was in relation to the ongoing spat between Penang state development officer (SDO) Nik Ali Mat Yunus, a federal employee, and Lim, the Penang chief minister.

Mohd Sidek was forced in recent days to defend Nik Ali, and had to answer a question from reporters today about whether it was appropriate for Nik Ali to speak publicly as a government officer while attending a function organised by Umno.

The chief secretary added in defence of Nik Ali: “Would it be wrong if I held a media conference with Datuk Seri Najib Razak? If it is his job as the prime minister and my job as the chief secretary, then it would not be wrong I held a press conference with him.”

No, sir, it would not be wrong. As long as it is a government function, like a press conference with the prime minister.

Or the monthly gathering of the Prime Minister’s Department.

Or a special briefing for civil servants.

It would not be wrong because Mohd Sidek would be attending as the country’s No. 1 civil servant, and Najib would be there in his capacity as prime minister.

And yes, sir, it would indeed be wrong for a civil servant to attend and speak at a DAP function with Lim.

Nik Ali cannot use a party function as a platform to attack the Penang chief minister.

The one thing which this country inherited from our former colonial masters was a bureaucracy.

And in this bureaucracy, it is of utmost importance that proper channels are used to deal with all matters.

Such red tape ensures professionalism.

Of even bigger significance is the fact that the civil service is seen to be impartial.

Political masters come and go, but the civil service remains.

Therefore, it must be neutral.

But going by Mohd Sidek’s arguments, there would be nothing wrong if he attends the Umno general assembly, too, together with the prime minister, who happens to be the party president.

My titbits:

Gross misconception: Mohd Sidek and all civil servants should be apolitical and not attend any political party functions even if invited. Civil servants must not be seen to be taking sides.

My conclusion:It is alright to call a chief minister rude if that was the case.It's no big deal, but certainly not from a state civil servant.

You know! The boss is always right.

Nik Ali is a federal civil servant, where he stands vis-a-vis a state government, I am not sure.

If Guan Eng attacked him first than he should have a right to response, maybe, not the way he did.

9 comments:

Pak Zawi said...

Apabila kita berada dirumah orang, pandai la kita berbudi bahasa. Kan sopan begitu?

Asrar said...

this argument is like two kids argueing about who fated first.
And in the second part, many members of the public listening to the kids arguing started arguing among them self about who's fart smell worse, such a waste of public time and energy

GET BACK TO WORK, THE BOTH OF YOU LAZY BAS#%D AND STOP WASTING OUR TIME WITH YOUR/MY F#$%KING PETTY POLITICS !!!! {ED. sorry i have enough of both idiots, you may edit, but it is to show all arguing side that Joe public had enough and anew new third force will replace them all together.]

vinnan said...

Civil Servants work for the people and the people's elected representatives. This bastard does not seem to understand that being kurang ajar speaks ill of civil servants and his race in general.

eddy said...

Bro my take it Guan Eng should protect the sanctity and dignity of the office of the Chief Minister of Pulau Pinang and should refrain himself from name callings against anybody, Civil Servants included whatever the circumstances.

Anywat, Guan Eng started the name calling first as usual, normally he gets away with it in Pulau Pinang being the CM there and all that, but this time he literally met buku dengan ruas and the Civil Servant in question gave as good as he gets. Good for him.

Then again I agree with you, Civil Servants should be apolitical but they are also human Bro, some things got to give some times under extreme provocation as in the present case involving Guan Eng.

eddy said...

Bro my take is Guan Eng should protect the sanctity and dignity of the office of the Chief Minister of Pulau Pinang and should refrain himself from name callings against anybody, Civil Servants included whatever the circumstances.

Anyway, Guan Eng started the name calling first as usual, normally he gets away with it in Pulau Pinang being the CM there and all that, but this time he literally met buku dengan ruas and the Civil Servant in question gave as good as he gets. Good for him.

Then again I agree with you, Civil Servants should be apolitical but they are also human Bro, some things got to give some times under extreme provocation as in the present case involving Guan Eng.

(Sorry some mis spelling in previous comment there Bro)

Anonymous said...

Dear Eddy,

In business, the staff always obey the boss. If they find the boss difficult to work with for personal or professional reasons, then the staff must leave for the good of the company.

In government, the civil service obey the authority of the government of the day as the duly elected representative of the people. If any civil servant find the boss difficult to work with for personal or professional reasons, then the staff must leave or transfer elsewhere.

Please let me know which staff ever gets away with public name-calling match with their boss and still enjoys the confidence of their colleagues & customers.

Do you have such staff working in your company before?

~ UnSupporter of Eddy Inconsistencies

Jasmine said...

In this embarrassing spat you can tell how politicised the civil service is! The KSN should not have responded in that way. He of all people should step in and be the mediator. But what is he doing? Adding fuel to a raging fire.

I am ashamed of having this kind of Public Service leader.

By the same token, I also don't fancy a CM who openly humiliates a civil servant. Arrogance doesn't always pay. He could have called him in private and tell him his dissatisfaction afterall LGE is the representative of the people.

And BN no need to be partisan in this case because one day you may be sitting on the other side... and get what you deserve!

Anonymous said...

A civil servant that sabotaged the operations of the state, mismanaged fundings that is meant for the people, refused to cooperate with the state administrators, and repetitively arrogantly threatened the state by controlling the purse string.....I have better words to describe him then those used by LGE !

The BN lead federal government has been trying very hard to wrest the control of the state from the PR hands, and this is one of their underhand and dirty tactics.

Eddy is as blinkered as usual, who is provocative ? who is arrogant ? and who is biadab ? Why I do not see LGE took offense with those longkang cleaners, instead giving them awards ? To remind you, glaciers are not formed over one night of winter storm ! If you did not follow the developement of the whole issue, try not to make shallow comments.

We do not need to feed civil servants that serve only their political master, we need civil servant that serve the people in general ! Especially when only 10% of the population pay tax and the civil servants constitute 5% of the populations.

flyer168 said...

Hello,

Politics is a science, backed by mathematical formula...

How about some Humour here...

Posted: 01 Nov 2009 04:16 AM PST
when some claimed able to give more than 100%...

This is a strictly mathematical viewpoint....it goes like this:

What Makes 100%? What does it mean to give MORE than 100%? Ever wonder about those people who say they are giving more than 100%? We have all been to those meetings where someone wants you to give over 100%. How about achieving 103%? What makes up 100% in life?

Here's a little mathematical formula that might help you answer these questions:

If: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z is represented as:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26.

Then:

H-A-R-D-W-O-R-K
8+1+18+4+23+15+18+11 = 98%

and

K-N-O-W-L-E-D-G-E
11+14+15+23+12+5+4+7+5 = 96%


But.... A-T-T-I-T-U-D-E
1+20+20+9+20+21+4+5 = 100%

And.... B-U-L-L-S-H-I-T
2+21+12+12+19+8+9+20 = 103%

AND, look how far ass kissing will take you....

A-S-S-K-I-S-S-I-N-G
1+19+19+11+9+19+19+9+14+7 = 118%" Unquote.

So, one can conclude with mathematical certainty, that while Hard work and Knowledge will get you close, and Attitude will get you there, it's the Bullshit and Ass Kissing that will put you over the top...

Well, many of the "Targeted & Brainwashed Sheeple" by the "System", that appointed them there in the first palace, are "Beholden" to the Standard Operating Procedures...

Ketuanan UMNO/BN's "Politically Correct" Procedure...

With promises of Promotions, Power, $$$, etc, etc, etc

That is the conclusion for ALL Bolehland's Ills...

You be the judge.

Cheers.