INTERVIEW | Time "wasted" by civil servants to welcome ministers or accompanying them on events as part of protocol can be better utilised to do work, said newly minted Transport Minister Anthony Loke.
Speaking to Malaysiakini in an interview, Loke said he had given clear instructions against such procedures in his first day at the ministry of transport today.
"I was welcomed by almost all staff today and they are lining up throughout the building to welcome me as it was my first time stepping inside the building. I told them (let this) be the first and the last time (queueing up). I don't need any such culture in future events.
"When I go down to visit an agency or department for briefing, I don't need all the staff to come out to welcome me. Such practices are not healthy.
“We should put a stop (to it). To wait for the minister to arrive, they have to stand there for half an hour. I told them I don't need such protocol. I think it was welcomed by all staff, they were clapping," Loke said.
The time wasted on queueing up for such protocol can be better utilised to do work, he added.
"Civil servants are here to serve the public and rakyat, and not the minister. The KSU (secretary-general) has to support the minister and so on, but their primary role is to serve the public.
"Any minister or high-ranking official of the ministry, when they go down to the department or state level, we don't need staff members to queue up to welcome us. It's a complete waste of time and affects their work," said the Seremban MP.
Loke said the same rule should also apply in Parliament when a minister is supposed to provide replies to questions.
"I told them (the staff) that I don't need a whole battalion when the minister gives the replies. I just need a few relevant people who can give me the information. A few is enough, and they can take turns to stand by in Parliament.
"We don't need almost all of the top management (of a ministry) to go to a Parliament session."
Loke said that to his knowledge, some ministries previously sent as many as 30 people, including heads of departments, to be on standby in Parliament for the whole day when their minister is replying to questions.
"One whole day, these officials have to be in Parliament. They have to put aside their work and attend the session.
"I'm not saying Parliament is not important… of course it needs the involvement of ministry officials, but you don't need all the heads of departments to be there," said Loke.
"Maybe you just need a liaison officer who knows the details to give information to the minister. This working culture must change." -Mkini
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