Join civil service to make impact - MCA chief's bid to break stigma

MCA president Wee Ka Siong is hoping to shatter the stigma about pursuing a career in the civil service.

He emphasised that it is more than a job but rather an opportunity to “make a real impact on society”.

“It offers the opportunity to contribute to national development, drive policy changes, and serve our communities directly,” he added.

However, the former transport minister acknowledged that there is a notable reluctance to join the civil service.

“Perceived bureaucratic inefficiencies and limited career progression can deter many talented individuals from considering this path,” he said.

Wee (above) had earlier officiated the Public Service and Uniformed Services Recruitment Briefing Programme 2024.

The MCA leader said he encouraged those who are committed to public service and want to contribute to meaningful change to explore the opportunities available in the civil service.

According to Wee, the campaign was organised by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s political secretary Chan Ming Kai.

Last year, the Public Services Commission (PSC) said there is no racial discrimination in the recruitment of civil servants and that Malaysians have equal opportunity to be considered in open and fair competition.

PSC’s statement had come in the wake of Anwar shooting down a proposal to consider reforms to break the Malay domination in the civil service because it was a non-issue.

PM Anwar Ibrahim

Anwar was responding to former Penang deputy chief minister P Ramasamy, who was then still with DAP.

However, the prime minister described it as a personal opinion, which did not reflect DAP’s stand.

Call for Chinese M’sians to join

In February, it was announced that a campaign would be carried out to encourage more Chinese Malaysians to join the civil service.

However, fireworks erupted between MCA and Umno when the latter’s Kedah information chief Shaiful Hazizy Zainol Abidin protested that more Chinese in the public sector could undermine the bumiputera economy.

"There is now government encouragement to increase the entry of the Chinese community to join the civil service due to their purported lack of interest in civil service.

"The civil service has been the platform for Malays to compete on a stage of fairness and equity.

“If this platform is also to be compromised and limited, the Malay economy will suffer," he said. - Mkini