Gov't official: Change 'following orders' to 'exercising integrity'

A government official has requested the new government to change the sign-off in official letters for the civil service.

He suggested that the current sign-off which reads “Saya yang menurut perintah (following orders)” should be replaced with “Saya yang menjalankan amanah (exercising integrity)”.

The officer had raised this during a town hall session between Public Administration officers and Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad in Putrajaya this afternoon.

He said the change would reflect the civil servants' principle of being trustworthy in the execution of their duties instead of giving the impression of following orders without question.

Mahathir replied that the government would look into the suggestion.

"We can do that," he said to applause and cheers from the audience.

Earlier, Mahathir, who was once accused of keeping the civil service on a tight leash during his first tenure as prime minister, reminded government officers not to follow orders blindly.

He said while civil servants should serve the government of the day, and this, however, should not be at the extent of committing wrongdoings or criminal acts.

“If I ordered you to commit murder, would you do that?

“There are two kinds of order. One is asking to commit a crime, and the other is based on certain principles," he added. -Mkini