Unity is important, Dr M reminds civil servants

Dr Mahathir Mohamad speaks at the monthly assembly with staff from the Prime Minister’s Department in Putrajaya today.

PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad today reminded members of his administration of the importance of unity, saying civil servants will not be able to function as a unit without it.

He said he had read a report in the news that the civil service is seen as less effective than before.

“Maybe it’s true, maybe it’s not true as a whole. However, when we are reprimanded, we should not get angry.

“On the contrary, we should take into account whether it has basis or not. If we find that there is such a basis, then we have to fix ourselves,” he said at the monthly assembly with the Prime Minister’s Department here.

Also present were Deputy Prime Minister Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department P Waytha Moorthy and Chief Secretary to the Government Ismail Bakar, among others.

Mahathir said the issue extends from high ranking civil servants to those with low ranks in the Prime Minister’s Department.

“In the various bodies that are in the Prime Minister’s Department, there are some problems because sometimes we find we have to work with people that might not be appropriate for us,” he said.

He said this is why tolerance, consideration of others and the ability to accept differences are such necessary qualities.

“If we cannot be tolerant (of others), if we are not willing to be considerate, then it will be difficult for us to function as a unit.”

He also said his government had recognised the troubled relationship between “the old and the new”, adding that it is a matter that needs to be solved by all.

“In this month of Raya, we are reminded to be forgiving,” he said. “We say ‘maaf zahir dan batin’. This is what we always say during the month of Raya.

“This is something that we need to put into practice,” he said.

Mahathir urged all Malaysians to be considerate and forgiving of one another, and to work together to carry out their duties well, govern the country properly and enjoy the fruits of their labour. - FMT