How about improving the performance of civil servants?

 

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has announced a pay rise for the civil service from December 2024, and said that 95% of government servants will “definitely” receive it, while the remaining 5% comprising “slow and lazy” bureaucrats may not see an increase in their wages.

He said feedback from investors was that the slow approval process was off-putting, and this prompted them to source other countries for investment purposes as they were not encumbered by red tape.

While the investors have their own factors to take into account before investing in Malaysia, the rakyat knows that the performance of many civil servants leaves much to be desired.

One only visits the government offices if one has to attend to business like paying bills, complaining against poor service, or making enquiries. Yet, how many times have we been confronted by Little Napoleons, in the form of a security guard or a junior government employee, who are both rude and uncompromising?

Some of us know it is better to keep the anger to ourselves, and show a completely calm exterior. A few are either foolhardy or courageous enough to trade insults with these Little Napoleons.

Many of us have probably heard that these civil servants, though thankfully in the minority, can be vindictive and may, if they are not happy with you, file your application at the bottom of the pile, or use delay tactics to get their own back on you, for daring to question their sloppiness.

We have also heard stories about visitors to government departments being turned away because the security guard has decided that the dress is inappropriate or too revealing.

Even women attired in knee-length dresses with sleeves have complained about being denied access for not conforming with the “dress code”. Most women have more sense than to wear something with a plunging neckline, a dress without sleeves, or tight-fitting denim shorts.

Requests to speak to a supervisor, or contact the person with whom you have an appointment, are often ignored.

One girl I know happened to wear coloured contact lenses and was turned away. Another who was not wearing long sleeves was also refused entry to a government building. In another department, a woman was refused entry because her tudung did not cover all of her fringe.

One would expect the guard or the person in charge to exercise a modicum of common sense, but the experience of many Malaysians is that in government departments, common sense, and rationality are in short supply.

These Little Napoleons who give us grief should not receive a pay rise. Either find ways to improve their performance or terminate their services. - FMT

The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.