Budget 2017 proved that the Government is not only running out of cash, but the situation will only deteriorate further, making 2017 possibly one of the worst years for ordinary Malaysians

Federal Government failed to meet 2016 revenue targets

Last year, Dato’ Seri Najib Razak announced in his budget that the Government expected to collect RM225.7 billion of revenue for 2016. However, the 2016 revenue has now been revised to RM212.6 billion based on the latest estimates.  That represents a very substantial 5.8% or RM13.1 billion shortfall for 2016.

To put things into perspective, and to highlight the severity of situation, more often than not in the past, the Government will collect more than they projected. 

The shortfall has in turn caused lower than projected operating and development expenditure.  The Government now estimates 2016 operating expenditure to drop from RM215.2 billion to RM207.1 billion, while development expenditure will drop from RM50 billion to only RM45 billion.

For example, this is the reason why we are seeing a substantial shortfall in health expenditure, resulting in shortages of reagents for conducting critical blood tests as well as increase in cost of medication for the man on the street.

The ability of the Federal Government to allocate the already limited operating expenditure budget is further constricted by Emoluments and Debt Servicing

In fact, it will only get worse in 2017 as the sins of the past catch up with the Government of the day.

The increasing size of the civil service has ensured that the “Emolument” payments for 2016 has increased by RM3.8 billion to RM73.9 billion despite the RM8 billion decline in operating expenses.  For 2017, the Government has further projected that emoluments will increase further by at least RM3.6 billion.  In the meantime, pension contributions, or “Retirement Charges” will also increase substantially from RM19.0 billion in 2016 to RM21.8 billion in 2017.

In addition, the annual “Debt Service Charges” – the instalments and repayments the Government has to pay for loans taken in the past – has increased significantly.  For 2016, it is estimated at RM26.6 billion or a RM2.36 billion hike from 2015.  For the next year in 2017, the amount would further increase to RM28.9 billion.  This is as a result of the Government’s reckless ramping up of Federal Government debt over the past decade on the back of high oil prices.

The twin increases in emoluments & retirement charges and debt service charges in the context of constricted revenue and operating expenditure would only mean less funds for other crucial expenses.

“Subsidies and social assistance” has already been reduced from RM39.7 billion in 2014 to RM27.3 billion (2015) to an estimated RM24.6 billion (2016).  It will be further reduced to RM22.4 billion in 2017.

There will also be less money for medicine supplies, housing, scholarships and other forms of educational support.

Federal Government is overly optimistic on its 2017 revenue projections

Finally, the only reason the Government was still able to project a “moderate” 3% budget deficit for 2017 was by giving an optimistic projection in its tax revenues.  Despite a significant drop in the estimated Petroleum Income Tax (PITA) from RM11.6 billion in 2015 to RM8.5 billion in 2016, the Government is assuming higher oil prices and demand for 2017 to collect RM10.6 billion.

The Government also assumes an increase in Corporate Income Tax (CITA) despite no corresponding assumption in a higher economic growth rate. CITA actually declined marginally in 2016 to RM63.2 billion from RM63.7 billion in 2015.  However in 2017, the Government has inextricably projected that it would receive RM69.2 billion.

Similarly, despite a declining trend of Goods and Services Tax (GST) collection in the recent quarters, the Government is still projecting an increase in collections of GST from RM38.5 billion in 2016 to RM40 billion in 2017.

All the above goes to prove that the Government is running out of cash very quickly and is struggling to balance its revenue and expenses.  The Government’s excesses of the past – including increasing the civil service hires to reduce graduate unemployment, excessive borrowings to finance inefficiency, corruption and wastages have severely constricted the Government’s ability to allocate expenditure today.  

Hence when the overly optimistic projections in government revenue collection fail to materialise, we can expect 2017 to be a very painful year for ordinary Malaysians. 

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Najib Hypocritical Over Civil Service

The Prime Minister has the cheek to inflame racial sentiments among the Malays by accusing the opposition of wanting to trim the civil service when it is the BN Government who will chop 29,000 civil servants starting next year

The Prime Minister had in his speech a Pertubuhan Kebajikan dan Dakwah Islamiah Malaysia (Pekida) gathering 3 days ago accused and berated the opposition of wanting to “halve the civil service” which is majority Malay.

Firstly, there was never any proposal from Pakatan Rakyat to “halve the civil service”. I had suggested in reply to questions from an audience in a forum that we could consider early optional retirement and the removal of those who had breached discipline and regulations, such as those who purchased RM1,940 binoculars for RM56,350. I had even emphasized that drastic measures are out of the question because we would need the cooperation of the civil service to govern effectively should Pakatan Rakyat take power in the next general elections.

But secondly and more importantly, Datuk Seri Najib Razak has proven himself to be a hypocrite of the highest degree when two days after his speech, the Public Service Department (JPA) under the Prime Minister’s office announced 29,000 redundancies in the civil service.

Under the new civil service scheme “Saraan Baru Perkhidmatan Awam (SBPA)”, not only did the Barisan Nasional government made redundant thousands of civil servants, JPA also announced that those who were assessed with 70 marks or less for their performance will be given warnings. And if their performance does not improve in 6 months, then they will be removed from the service automatically via an “exit policy”.

The Director-General of JPA, Tan Sri Abu Bakar Abdullah had also emphasized during the announcement that the new exit policy will affect all 1.4 million civil servants in the country.

The above civil service downsizing attempts by the BN administration is consistent with Najib’s Government Transformation Programme (GTP) which said “the Government will move towards a new model of smaller government” (page 240). Similarly, Najib’s cornerstone New Economic Model (NEM) Part II had called for a “reduced government role” which will involve “downsizing and re-focussing” (page 55).

Hence the above proved that the Prime Minister and his fellow UMNO leaders were just mere political opportunists in portraying Pakatan Rakyat as anti-civil service by inflaming racial sentiments using racist arguments.

It is UMNO who is culling the civil service today and yet they had the cheek to claim that Pakatan Rakyat and myself are racists. Dato’ Seri Najib Razak has taken an extreme racial position in this matter, and together with other aspects of his speech which pits Malays against non-Malays, he is fighting to retain power at all costs, even if it means spreading vicious lies and even signing the death warrant for his 1Malaysia policy.

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UMNO Hypocrites Over Civil Service

The racist reactions by Umno politicians to proposals to improve the efficiency of our civil service and government expenditure prove that the Party prioritises only its bigoted political interests and marginalises the needs of the nation

I am almost amused by the “shock and fury” expressed by Umno politicians, the far-right Perkasa and Umno-owned Utusan Malaysia on a straightforward comment which I had made in a forum in Johor Bahru on 30th October 2011, in response to a question posed by a member of the audience.

I had presented at the Budget 2012 forum the rising Government operating expenditure and the fact that the largest and fastest rising component of the expenditure is the allocation for “Emoluments, Pensions and Gratuities”. I had shown the chart below which clearly highlights the rise of the Government’s total wage bill:

 The chart shows that our total civil service wage bill has increased from RM20.9 billion in 10 years ago in 2001 to RM30.2 billion 5 years ago in 2006 to a massive RM64.1 billion expected next year in 2012.

The member of the audience had asked, what could be done to resolve the issue. I said that this matter will be one which is highly sensitive and a very difficult issue to deal with. I had specifically emphasized that the civil service cannot be reduced overnight and any rationalisation of the civil service has to be conducted over the long term. I had offered certain suggestions such as the termination of civil servants who have failed to perform their responsibilities as well as offering optional early retirement programmes for those who are interested.

However, the reaction from the UMNO chauvinists clearly showed that they are not interested in solving the problem but are more interested in inflaming racial sentiments and making irresponsible wild allegations with the sole purpose of creating racial hatred.

It was perhaps most disappointing to hear the widely respected and normally rational, MP for Johor Bahru, Datuk Shahrir Samad stooping so low as to turn a healthy discussion on the size of the civil service into a racial issue. He has said that “Motif mereka hanyalah mahu menaikkan sentiment rasis dan bukannya berasaskan ekonomi.”

The reaction by the Johor Bahru MP, other Umno politicians and Perkasa is completely hypocritical for it was the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak himself who has proposed a new civil service scheme for the government workforce.

In his Budget 2012 speech, the Prime Minister himself had proposed that “a flexible remuneration system will be introduced to retain or terminate civil servants based on performance. Civil servants must accept this challenge and be prepared to change. Hence, the Government will introduce the New Civil Service Remuneration Scheme or SBPA [will] introduce an exit policy for underperforming civil servants and for those who opt to leave the service”.

Why is it that these very critics and race-champions have not raised a single note of objection to the Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s proposal but when the same issue is raised by an opposition politician, then all hell breaks loose.

In fact, even the Chief Secretary, Tan Sri Sidek Hassan has said the same when questioned by reports the day after the Budget speech where “…he insisted that the “exit policy” announced in Budget 2012 would be strictly enforced.”

“If you want to go out, we will allow you to go out. When we think that it is better off for you for a civil servant to be outside the public service, then we will allow them to go out. When they misbehave, and we think they should go out, we’ll ask them to go out,” he said.

Therefore Datuk Shahrir and all other shameless critics should focus on the task at hand as put forth by the Prime Minister and the Chief Secretary themselves and stop playing racial politics with the sole purpose of inciting racial hatred among Malaysians for the purposes of shoring up declining support for an UMNO that is bankrupt of ideas.

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Nik Ali: "An Exemplary Officer"

Najib's defence of Nik Ali smacks not only of double standards, it's a signal for senior government officials to continue to refuse cooperation with Pakatan led state governments

Both the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak and the Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin have jumped into the fray in the Penang Pakatan Rakyat government's battle against “little Napoleons” in the civil service by choosing to defend the “little Napoleons” and ignoring their outright transgressions.

Tan Sri Muhyiddin has claimed that the Cabinet finds nothing wrong in the actions of Penang state development officer Nik Ali Mat Yunos who has not only demonstrated open defiance against the state government but has also demonstrated his political impartiality by conducting press conferences under the auspices of Umno.

In Miri, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said the cabinet regretted and found unacceptable the action taken by Lim in degrading the honour of a federal officer, but failed to highlight the fact that it was Nik Ali who first publicly called the Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng “biadap” or insolent.

In fact, Tan Sri Muhyiddin went to the extent to call Nik Ali “an exemplary officer” and saw “no case of insubordination”. Similarly, the Chief Secretary to the Government has reiterated that “no action will be taken against Nik Ali”.

The above prejudicial comments by both the PM and DPM demonstrate clearly that the Barisan Nasional federal government is using the civil service “little Napoleons” to make life difficult for the Pakatan Rakyat state governments to serve their own political interests.

The actions of the PM, DPM and the Chief Secretary sets a dangerous precedent as they serve as an endorsement of recalcitrance by these “little Napoleons” as well as clear encouragement for them to commit such acts towards the Pakatan Rakyat-led state governments.

The Barisan Nasional (BN) leaders are unable to accept the situation where a government founded on “competency, accountability and transparency” will outstrip the performance of BN and have instead chosen to inculcate “little Napoleons” in the civil service to sabotage state policies which serves to benefit the rakyat.

Datuk Seri Najib has also clearly went against his own mantra of “people first, performance now” whereby it is clear in this case that despite Nik Ali's non-performance, he received sky-high praises from the top leaders of the BN government for playing politics with the Pakatan Rakyat leaders. Instead of choosing people first, and rewarding civil servants who serve the interest of the rakyat, the BN government is now focused on getting an impartial civil service to serve BN's own political interest.

The Pakatan Rakyat state governments have no beef with the Malaysian civil service and we have worked well with many top civil servants who have given outstanding performance in the delivery of our policies. However, the Pakatan governments will not tolerate the presence of “little Napoleons” whose only roles are to serve their own personal interest as well as that of Umno and BN.

The continued presence of and encouragement given to these “little Napoleons” will only result in continued leakages, corruption and inefficiency in the government delivery mechanism, and will turn away precious local and foreign investors who will see no practical changes with the Government despite the implementation of the “New Economic Model”.

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Budget 2010: General Elections 2011?

Regular readers would have noted my constant laments on the BN Governments sky-high operating expenditures over the past decade, and especially in the last 5-6 years.

Hence as the government coffers ran out of money, in part due to having spent every cent of our billions of windfall revenues from the oil and gas sector over the past few years, and in part due to falling oil prices which affects the current government tax collections, it was not a surprise that in the Budget 2010, operational expenditure has been cut by 13.7% from RM160 billion to RM138 billion.

While it was certainly not a "willing" cut in operational expenditure, it is still a welcome cut as our government's operational expenditure had been spiralling out of control.

However, it was still interesting to note that while almost every line item within the Operational Expenditure allocations were cut, 2 related items - "emoluments" and "pensions" - increased significantly.

Operational expenditure classified under "Others" which is essentially discretionary spending by the Prime Minister's Department, has been cut from RM31 billion to RM11 billion. "Supplies and Services" was cut by 22.2% from RM26.8 billion to RM20.8 billion. "Subsidies" were cut by 14.7% from RM24.5 billion to RM20.9 billion.

However, "Emoluments", the largest single component of our operational expenditure, increased from RM38.0 billion to RM42.2 billion, an increase of 11% or RM4.2 billion. Similarly, pensions and gratuities increased from RM13.5 billion to RM15.9 billion, an increase of RM2.5 billion or 17.9%. This sizeable increase in emoluments and pensions is certainly out of the ordinary, and certainly not related to organic pay increments.

I've often criticised the size of the civil service, and its ratio to the population being one of the highest in the world. Hence the sizeable increase in allocation for emoluments and pensions has got to do with either:

• a. The Government intends to drastically expand the already bloated civil service further, which in my opinion is very unlikely, especially with the registered intent to increase privatisation initiatives... (but then again... ;-)), OR
  
  
• b. The Government has budgeted for a sizeable bonus to be announced and paid towards the end of 2010.

Now, why would there be such a big bonus at the end of 2010? You've got it. It will be in preparation for the elections to be called in 2011, probably in the 2nd quarter, not long after the 3 year anniversary of March 2008 tsunamic elections.

I questioned this in parliament during my Budget speech, and the New Straits Times picked it up ;-)

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Civil Service Needs Overhaul, Not New Steering Wheel

While Sdr Lim Kit Siang focused on meritocracy when he ripped into the new Prime Minister's announcement on "multi-level entry system" into the civil service to "attract" private sector talent, I focused pretty much on endemic and entrench structural problems facing the civil sector. It will require a whole lot more than just attracting a handful of "private sector talents" to turn the civil service on its head.

A few days ago, Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak proposed structural changes to the Malaysian civil service, which he called “multi-level admission system” where key positions in the government are opened up to talent from the private sector and government-linked companies (GLCs) in an attempt to modernise the civil service.

While we will always welcome top talents joining the civil service and serving the country, the above piecemeal measure will not be anywhere near sufficient to reform the ailing government sector.

Najib has himself admitted that there was a need for the government to justify the high expenses of RM41 billion to maintain the civil service in 2008. This represented a 60.2% increase from emolument expenses just 3 years earlier in 2005 which amounted to RM25.6 billion. What is worse is, the entire government operational and development budget combined in the 1990s never even exceeded RM48 billion, but 10 years on, the amount is barely enough to sustain our bloated civil service.

The civil service has been expanding rapidly since the 1990s, and the growth accelerated under the current prime minister. In 1990, the Federal Government had 773,997 employees; by the year 2000, there were 894,788 on the payroll, a significant increase of 15.6%. However, since then, the civil service employment has accelerated by more than 210,000 personnel in 2006, marking a 23.5% increase over the 6 years alone.

In fact, studies by Organisation for Economic Cooperation & Development have ascertained that we have the highest ratio of civil servants to the population in the Asia-Pacific at 4.68%, while our regional neighbours have less than half our ratio, like Indonesia (1.79%), Philippines (1.81%), Korea (1.85%) and Thailand (2.06%). This clearly indicates the low level of productivity of our civil service.

The bloated civil service problem has been further exacerbated by the Governments policy of making our the service a dumping ground for unemployed graduates over the past few years. For example, in July 2006, as the then Deputy Prime Minister, Najib had instructed the Public Services Department (PSD) to speed up the recruitment of graduates to fill some 30,000 vacancies in the civil service to “overcome the problem of unemployed graduates.”

As part of the above initiative, the Government had actually created 2,000 positions in the Ministry of Domestic & Consumer Affairs in 2007 to employ unemployed graduates as “price monitors” just to “keep watch on the price of goods at 96 locations that included wet markets, supermarkets and grocery stores” with little or no value-added functions.

And even in the latest 2nd Economic Stimulus Plan announced by Najib who is also the Finance Minister in March this year, Najib said “the government would recruit 63,000 staff to fill vacancies, including 13,000 jobs for contract officers.”

Hence, while Najib has rightly recognised the problem of needing to “justify” the RM41 billion spent on maintaining the unwieldy civil service, he is now also contributing to the problem by adding massively to the staff force. It has also to be noted that while it's easy to add new staff, shedding them is nearly impossible and it will only lead to deeper structural problems for our beleaguered civil service.

To overhaul the civil service sector, we must first stop treating the sector as an employer of the last resort. By absorbing these graduates who were not able to obtain gainful employment in the private sector, it results not only in a poor quality workforce within the civil service, it also increases the Government's financial obligations. Persisting with these policies will only serve to negate any positive impact from the “multi-level admission system” which Najib is trying to implement to attract talents into the service.

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Election Commission - A Stooge?

I wrote on the Election Commission helmed by the new Chairman, Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Yusof here and here earlier, questioning its credibility over its dubious decisions.

Sdr Lim Kit Siang earlier today lambasted the Election Commission as a "mouthpiece and appendage of the Barisan Nasional government" and asked for an explanation to be given to us, in a meeting was held later in the afternoon, which I had attended.

(By the way, 10 MPs from Pakatan Rakyat turned up for the meeting including 6 from DAP. PAS Elections Director, Mustafa Ali was also present. On the other hand, in the same briefing/meeting with the Barisan Nasional component parties in the morning, only 4 junior officials turned up. It certainly reflects how much they take the Elections Commission for granted.)

Of interest was the rationale behind the delay in the announcement of the Penanti state seat election status. For the first time in the history of Malaysia, the Election Commission failed to make an announcement on the vacated seat after its meeting. Instead, the EC promised only an announcement next Monday, 5 days after its meeting.

I raised the question on why something so odd is happening and it's giving the impression that the EC has to wait for a decision from UMNO Supreme Council meeting to be held this Friday in none other than Permatang Pauh itself, before it can make any formal announcements!

The EC chairman responded that he's totally unaware of any such Supreme Council meeting, or when it's being held.

He further provided the reason that the delay was due to the fact the schools and venues for nomination and results announcement have yet been finalised as these schools have not yet given formal "consent". Hence, the EC has to wait til Monday before being able to announcement dates and venue of the by-elections. This is of course the first time in its 43 years of history that the EC has been unable to secure confirmation of venue for its by-elections during their meeting! (Says a lot about Najib's "performance now" mantra). That is of course, if you chose to believe his excuse.

But he did assure us that the by-elections is definitely "on". However, when pressed, he refused to make the announcement that it is "on" first, followed by its details on Monday. This was despite our advise to the EC that by at least announcing the confirmation of by-elections, it'll help remove to some degree, the negative perception of the EC as an appendage of UMNO.

So there you have it. Make your own informed opinions. ;-)

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Barisan Nasional Plays Ultimate Dirty

What we are witnessing in Perak today is a total and complete mockery and contempt for our democratic institutions.

We are watching a minor league football game whereby the referee, linesmen, officials, physio and even the ushers in the stadium are breaking all rules and conventions to prevent a fair game from taking place. The referee and officials are not only biased, they are actually taking part in the game itself, as the 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th (or more) players!

All in the mean time, the crowd watched in horror what is happening before their very eyes, that has widespread ramifications for all football games to be held throughout the country.

It is just shocking. Even diplomatic officials whom I've met shook their heads in absolute amazement, what is actually happening in our beloved country. The civil service, the police, the judiciary and even arguably the royalty, are supposed to be institutions which protect the rakyat and fair play. Instead, they have shown their true colours in becoming institutions to protect the interest of Barisan Nasional.

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Malaysia Civil Service Revisited

Not too long ago, I got myself into a little "tiff" with UMNO Deputy Youth Chief, Khairy Jamaluddin when I released a press statement which cited the need for the Government to "streamline" a bloated civil service. I also stated that the accelerated increase in the number of civil servants was partially caused by the Government's policy of absorbing a "politically sensitive" pool of unemployed graduates into its fold.

As a result, the UMNO Deputy Youth Chief claimed that I was insulting Malays. Well, it appears that I'm definitely not alone with my opinions.

The Singapore Straits Times correspondent in Malaysia, Carolyn Hong, wrote an article "Stampede for govt jobs in Malaysia" on 24th September.

Last month, when [the Government] advertised for three electronics technical assistants and one electronics engineer, it was swamped with 9,216 resumes for the first job and 3,705 for the second.

The public sector, it seems, is the most popular employer these days.

And the reason?

It is the result of the government's drive to produce more graduates. One in every five Malaysian workers now has a degree or diploma, compared with one in seven five years ago.

Many new Malay graduates flock to the government sector because, as [economist] Datuk Dr Zainal [Aznam Yusof] said, they find it harder than others to find jobs in the private sector.

The article also quote a few other Malay economists on the jobs and employment situation in Malaysia. I'd certainly like to hear whether the UMNO Deputy Youth Chief will similarly think that what they are saying represents an "insult" to Malays.

The Government must face up to the problems faced by the bloated civil service as well as the increasing rate of unemployment among local graduates. To a large extent the very cause of the current problems faced, particularly by the bumiputera community, is ironically the New Economic Policy (NEP) itself, which was designed to assist them. Until the NEP is discarded and a more progressive policy implemented, the problems facing the community are only expected worsen in the coming years, and not as intended, improve.

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Senyum Kambing

Ya, seperti yang ditunjukkan, Utusan Malaysia masih lagi memberi kepentingan kepada "Tony Pua" yang sekali lagi muncul di muka hadapan suratkhabar tersebut pada hari Isnin minggu lalu. ;)

Kali ini, pendapat saya bahawa kerajaan perlu memperkuatkan pihak kakitangan awam, diperlekehkan sebab ada "lima pemuda berkelulusan sarjana dan doktor falsafah (PhD) sanggup menjadi rekrut konstabel polis di Maktab Teknik PDRM Bakri".

Utusan melaporkan bahawa Komandan Maktab Teknik PDRM Bakri, Datuk Zakaria Yusof berkata, "mereka sanggup berbuat demikian selepas permohonan untuk mendapat tempat dalam pengambilan jawatan inspektor baru-baru ini, gagal."

“Kelima-lima mereka benar-benar berminat menganggotai pasukan polis dan mereka bersedia menerima jawatan konstabel dalam pasukan,” katanya kepada Bernama selepas merasmikan Forum Perdana Hal Ehwal Islam, di padang kawad maktab itu malam tadi.

Zakaria berkata, kehadiran kelima-lima mereka yang merupakan antara 500 rekrut konstabel di pusat itu membuktikan profesion kepolisan kini semakin mendapat tempat di kalangan pemuda termasuk mereka yang berkelulusan tinggi.

Ribuan terima kasih kepada Sdr Chow Kon Yeow kerana sanggup membela nasib si Tony Pua yang telah dihentam bertubi-tubi kedekatan ini.

Umm... senyum kambing ;)

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Kesultanan Melaka

After another hectic week, I'm now spending a weekend break (planned months ago) with the missus and the kid in Sandakan, Sabah. Yes, it's an escape! Hence, I really shouldn't even be blogging ;).

But I thought the following letter from Dr Gunawan Mahmood of Johor Bahru, published in Utusan Malaysia 2 days ago deserves an exception. The letter is obviously with regards to the controversy which I inadvertently started, by calling for the Government to streamline the civil service.

Read the letter, of which a large segment is quoted below. Read it twice and you might just start to think that it's a pretty good satirical political statement. ;) Enjoy.

SAYA sependapat dengan Khairy Jamaluddin bahawa Tony Pua, Penasihat Ekonomi kepada Setiausaha Agung DAP bersifat menghina dan angkuh khususnya terhadap pegawai kerajaan yang telah berkorban tenaga dan jiwa raga terhadap keselamatan dan kemajuan negara ini.

[...]

Orang-orang Melayu sudah bekerja dengan kerajaan sejak Kesultanan Melaka lagi. Merekalah pentadbirpentadbir di bawah DYMM sultansultan dan raja-raja Melayu.

Dari bendahara, temenggong, menteri, laksamana, tentera, Jabatan Laut, Jabatan Istana, semuanya dipegang oleh pegawai-pegawai Melayu. Ini kerana memang negeri ini negeri-negeri Melayu.

[...]

Pegawai-pegawai kerajaan Melayu melambangkan ketuanan Melayu dalam politik. Oleh kerana itulah Tony cuba memperkecil-kecilkan pegawai kerajaan Melayu. Sebagai negeri yang asalnya Melayu, ketuanan Melayu jangan diabaikan. Politik Melayu yang mendominasi pemerintahan negara mestilah didukung oleh pegawai-pegawai Melayu.

Keadaan ini akan mewujudkan kestabilan politik. Sistem ini wajar dikekalkan. Tidak timbul sama sekali jawatan pegawai kerajaan diberi bagi menyara siswazah menganggur. Ketahuilah, bahawa siswazah Melayu juga mempunyai keterampilan dan kemahiran yang tinggi dan layak bekerja di merata dunia.

[...]

Sejarah pegawai-pegawai Melayu cukup panjang. DAP jangan buta sejarah. Maka kita pegawai-pegawai Melayu hendaklah jangan dengan apa cara menyokong DAP yang memperkecilkan dan menghina pegawaipegawai Melayu.

[...]

Usah biarkan cacing naik ke mata, Khairy dan para pemimpin pemuda mestilah mempertahankan golongan pegawai kerajaan Melayu kerana mereka adalah pelaksana dasar kerajaan yang diputuskan oleh para pemimpin. Sekali anda bersuara, kami berasa bangga dan terbela.

DR. GUNAWAN MAHMOOD,
Johor Bahru.

So, what do you think? ;)

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Public Works Debacles (PWD)

Just got back from tonight's forum (after dinner), and really need sleep ;). But thought I'd post an announcement that I'll be speaking at Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (again!) at a forum organised by Oriental Daily.

Topic: PWD - Public Works Debacles
Venue: KL & Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall
Date: 31st May 2007
Time: 7.30pm

There are 3 speakers for the evening, including myself. The other 2 speakers are Ir Yong Yew Wei, and another lady from MCA.

Last weekend when I was on Astro, YB Wee Ka Siong concurred with our opinion that plenty has to change, including the Minister himself, in order to prevent our future infrastructure projects from collapsing on us. Well, later this evening, we'll investigate further on the underlying causes behind the leaking in Parliament and the new mega-court complex, cellings collapsing and electricity failing, as well as cracks in brand new buildings and highways.

The medium of communication will be in Mandarin. ;) See you there!

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Bridging the Malaysian Divide

The "controversy" over my simple statement, and as reported in Malaysiakini, which suggested to the Government that the civil service needs to lose some weight has taught me a little thing or two about the extent of the divide, or for that matter "chasm" which we face as a nation today. While I'm thankful for all the support shown here from readers in little altercation with the UMNO Youth Deputy Chief, it paints only half the picture of Malaysians out there.

On Sunday, those who reads Utusan Malaysia will understand the size of the chasm which needs bridging to bring about a one-and-united Malaysia. Figuratively, you could say that I'm bruised blue-black in Utusan, not once, not twice, but three times(!) that day. ;)

First there was a published letter "Orang Melayu Terlalu Lembut" by Azizah Rahmad of Shah Alam:

BARU-baru ini orang Melayu dikejutkan dengan kenyataan menghina oleh Tony Pua di Malaysiakini bahawa penjawat awam hanya terdiri daripada orang Melayu mengalami masalah pengangguran.

[...]

Tetapi beliau mesti akur bahawa jika kerajaan sendiri tidak mengambil graduan bumiputera mahukah sektor swasta mengambil graduan bumiputera dengan ikhlas dan memberi peluang yang sama rata? Ini termasuk dari segala aspek antaranya kenaikan gaji dan pangkat dalam jangka masa yang panjang.

...hikmah tersirat dari kenyataan Tony Pua ini adalah satu wake up call bagi semua orang Melayu betapa pentingnya kita semua bersatu demi masa depan masyarakat Melayu... Orang Melayu dan Islam walau apa pun pegangan politik mereka mesti dengan serius mementingkan dan memikirkan nasib bangsa untuk tempoh akan datang dan bertindak dengan bijak sekarang ini.

[...]

Kita telah terlalu banyak berlembut dan bertolak ansur demi keharmonian sebagai rakyat dalam masyarakat berbilang kaum dan agama tetapi ini tidak bermakna mereka boleh ‘memijak’ kepala kita.

Once again, I have to repeat I did not say nor imply that "penjawat awam hanya terdiri daripada orang Melayu mengalami masalah pengangguran".

Then Irmohizam Ibrahim, Ahli Majlis Tertinggi of Gabungan Pelajar Melayu Semenanjung (GPMS), wrote in his opinion piece "Hentikan agenda gugat perpaduan kaum"

Kedegilan Tony Pua yang enggan meminta maaf kepada anggota perkhidmatan awam negara dan langkahnya mencabar Khairy untuk berdebat tajuk “Kecemerlangan Perkhidmatan Awam: Kualiti vs Kuantiti” mencerminkan hakikat bahawa kenyataan menghina yang dibuat oleh beliau sememangnya disengajakan dan ia memaparkan pandangannya terhadap standard perkhidmatan awam negara khasnya dan kualiti graduan Melayu amnya.

[...]

Sebenarnya kenyataan Tony Pua ini sebahagian daripada siri tindakan memprovokasi orang Melayu oleh parti DAP. Manakan tidak graduan Melayu yang menganggur dan gagal mendapat pekerjaan di sektor swasta terus dicap dan ditanggap sebagai mempunyai kualiti rendah. Beliau langsung tidak mengambil kira pelbagai sebab lain yang menyebabkan mereka gagal memperoleh pekerjaan di sektor swasta...

Kenapa kebelakangan ini kerap sangat parti DAP, pemimpin atau bekas pemimpinnya mengeluarkan kenyataan yang boleh merosakkan perhubungan kaum di negara tercinta ini?

Sebenarnya Tony Pua dan rakan-rakannya adalah simptom kepada apa yang menjadi masalah utama kepada parti DAP. Mereka adalah wajah sebenar kepada DAP iaitu sebuah parti yang sebenarnya tidak berminat untuk mewujudkan Malaysia untuk semua orang Malaysia seperti slogan muluk yang dilaung- laungkan...

Apa yang lebih menggerunkan bahawa DAP tidak sedar atau sengaja tidak mahu sedar bahawa jalan yang diambilnya adalah jalan yang boleh merosakkan negara untuk jangka masa panjang.

So now constructive criticisms of the civil service is now a racial issue which affects ethnic relations in the country...

Finally, the editor(s) of Utusan Malaysia, commented in their regular column "Bisik-Bisik Awang Selamat" that:

...Awang tertanya mengapa DAP enggan membetulkan sikap banyak syarikat swasta yang mengehadkan peluang pekerjaan kepada orang Melayu, dengan cara menetapkan syarat fasih bahasa Mandarin.

Awang percaya jika kepentingan Melayu terus diasak, akan tercetus gelombang suara mempersoalkan semula tolak ansur kepada golongan minoriti.

Tiada negara lain di dunia yang menyaksikan kaum minoriti menerima nasib yang sebegitu baik sebagaimana di Malaysia.

We really must be living in 2 separate worlds...

This post isn't to debate on the merits of the above arguments. I've already done that in my previous posts here and here.

The reason why I put the above quotes here is to demonstrate the size of the chasm or divide we face in this country, and the near-impossibly humongous task we have towards nation-building, despite 50 years of independence.

Read more!

The Show Must Go On...

There you have it. I've issued my clarification statement on the civil service, explained my concerns with the existing government policies towards the public sector and invited the Deputy UMNO Youth Chief to a gentlemen's debate on how to achieve civil service excellence.

Khairy Jamaluddin, disappointingly, has promptly turned down the invite to discuss the all-important issue of improving our civil service, but yet continued to insist that my initial statement on civil service was racially-biased.

The issue attracted decent coverage in The Star, Utusan Malaysia and Oriental Daily. The former two carried the reply from Khairy. Berita Harian however, didn't offer me the right of reply.

In The Star:

...Khairy said that he would not entertain Pua's challenge to a debate, adding that it was an attempt by the Opposition to divert the subject to something else.

[...]

“It is not about me or about debating the issues he has laid forward. He has made a statement that is degrading to the civil service which has irked many, such as the Cuepacs leader,” he said, maintaining his stand that Pua and the DAP ought to apologise.

Utusan juxtaposed our positions next to one another. My statement was reported here while his detailed response here:

...tindakan itu [cabaran debat] disifatkan tidak matang dan Pua dilihat cuba lari daripada bertanggungjawab atas kenyataan asalnya yang secara jelas melukakan hati banyak pihak khususnya orang Melayu.

‘‘Kenapa pula hendak berdebat dengan saya? Ini sudah menjadi sangat tidak relevan daripada kenyataan asalnya yang jelas menghina kakitangan perkhidmatan awam.

‘‘Kini terpulang kepada dia sama ada hendak meminta maaf. Kita sudah tidak kisah kerana sudah jelas nampak niat buruk beliau yang kini sudah terdedah,’’ ujar Khairy.

[...]

Khairy menyifatkan cabaran Pua itu sebagai permainan politik kotor. “Dia cuba menggunakan jalan pintas untuk melarikan diri daripada masalah yang sedang ditanggungnya,” kata beliau.

In summary, my invite for a "reasoned, collected and rational debate" on how to improve the civil service in Malaysia is:

1. A diversion tactic
2. Immature ("sifat tidak matang")
   
3. Irrelevant ("tidak relevan")
   
4. Of clear unscrupulous intent ("jelas nampak niat buruk")
5. Dirty politics ("politik kotor")
   

Malaysians can decide for themselves if my statements and open invite to Khairy even remotely represent any of the above "allegations".

But there's only one thing I'll reiterate here, that is my constructive criticisms of the government's policies towards the civil service is not racial, nor is it an insult to civil servants.

While I'm happy for Utusan to have carried my views with little "cuts", I'm disappointed that the paper has decided to headline the issue as a challenge to the "integrity and capability of Malay civil servants (kewibaan dan keupayaan kakitangan awam Melayu)", which it clearly wasn't.

My initial statement was entitled "Record Pay Rise Solves Only Part of the Civil Service Problem". In particular, the Government must streamline the bloated civil service, which is among the largest, proportionate to the population it serves in Asia.

Irrespective to Khairy's unfortunate rejection to my invitation to a sensible debate, the forum on "Civil Service Excellence: Quality vs Quantity" will proceed as planned. Yes, the show will go on, and we will reserve a seat on stage for the UMNO Deputy Youth Chief providing him with the opportunity to change his mind at any point of time.

Topic: Civil Service Excellence: Quality vs Quantity
Venue: KL & Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall
Date: 30th May 2007 (Wednesday)
Time: 8.00 pm

Besides myself, several distinguished speakers, Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim, Nurul Izzah Anwar and Sdr Lim Kit Siang have confirmed their participation, while we are still awaiting confirmation from several other exciting speakers. It'll be updated here once they have confirmed attendance.

We look forward to seeing you there! ;)

Read more!

Coming Near You This Weekend...

Just some quick announcements ;) The weekend's about to get busier for me.

For those who have Astro, and understands Mandarin, I'm on tonights talk show "Talking Issues" ("就事论事") at AEC Channel 19 @ 11pm. The issue being discussed is slightly relevant to the current civil service 'controversy' - "Who's Responsible For The Public Works with Major Defects?"

Brand new buildings and highways, as well as recently completed expensive renovations in Putrajaya, Parliament and the mega-Court complex are showing extensive and unbelievable defects. Who's responsible? The Government? The Civil Service (Public Works Department)? The Minister? Or The Contractor? Find out more tonight! ;)

In addition, for those living in the Petaling Jaya (PJ) vicinity, just a gentle reminder on the dinner event being held by the PJ Action Team in Sungai Way. I'll be speaking at the event together with other leaders like DAP Secretary General, Sdr Lim Guan Eng, and MP for Bukit Mertajam, Sdri Chong Eng. Click here for more details. ;)

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Civil Service Excellence III

Finally, I'm getting to the press conference which I conducted this morning ;). It was well attended by the print media, and Malaysiakini has got their reports up in English here, and in Chinese here, already. So there should be some coverage in the Chinese papers tonight, as well as possibly the English and Malay press tomorrow.

Below is my 2-page statement in full, so that you can understand the overall context of my response. Understandably, most newspapers won't give you all the space and will only take quotes, which may inadvertently slant the reports. ;)

No Apology For Stating The Facts - Challenge Khairy Jamaluddin To A Public Debate Seeking Truth From Fact Towards "Civil Service Excellence: Quality Vs Quantity" In The Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall On Wednesday 8 pm 30 May 2007.

In my statement dated 22nd May 2007 entitled “Record Pay Rise Solves Only Part of the Civil Service Problem”, I called on the Government to take the “painful but very important step of trimming the civil service sector into a leaner and more efficient 'machine'”.

UMNO Youth Deputy Chief, Khairy Jamaluddin issued a statement published in the Star, Utusan Malaysia and Berita Harian yesterday took issue with my comment that the bulging and unwieldy civil service was partly caused by the Government's policy to absorb unemployed graduates. This has resulted in the civil service becoming a “dumping ground” for unemployed graduates. These graduates are also a “politically sensitive constituency” as an large majority of them are Malays.

Khairy claimed that my comments “were totally unacceptable and without basis” and hence sought an apology from the Party and myself.

However, as my previous statement was completely based on facts and figures provided by the government, we see absolutely no necessity to make any apology to the UMNO Deputy Youth Chief. This position is concurred by DAP Secretary-General Sdr Lim Guan Eng based on the following facts:-

1. On 12 July 2006, the Star reported that “The Public Services Department (PSD) and Public Services Commission have been urged to speed up the recruitment of graduates to fill some 30,000 vacancies in the civil service. Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said that this would overcome the problem of unemployed graduates.”
   
   
2. An EPU study on graduate unemployment conducted in September 2005 estimated that out of the unemployed pool of some 60,000 graduates then, some 70% or more were bumiputeras. This was also confirmed in the same Star article above, by the Deputy Prime Minister himself.

Hence, I'm unable to understand how the comment I made was without basis. He claimed that my “comments about the civil service can cause considerable damage to the morale and image of the public sector.”

Instead, I'd like to put forth instead that the Government's policy of absorbing these unemployed graduates, by acting as an employer of the last resort, is one of the reasons for considerable damage to the morale of the existing and senior civil servants, as well as the image of the public sector.

Criticising such a short-sighted policy of taking in unemployed graduates is also not akin to rubbishing the entire civil service as unemployable or of poor quality.

Therefore no apology shall be forthcoming for stating the facts and challenge Khairy to seek truth from facts with a public debate on "Civil Service Excellence - Quality Vs Quantity" on Wednesday 8pm 30 May in the Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall or at any place and time of his choosing.

Constructive criticism of Government policy towards the Civil Service is neither a racial issue nor an insult to civil servants.

In addition, Khairy should also read the entire statement to put my comments into context.

1. We fully support the pay increment for the civil service. In fact, the DAP leaders have made our stand known repeatedly in the past the it was an absolute travesty that the basic wage our lowest ranking civil servants of RM481 are well below the Malaysian poverty line of RM691. Even the lowest ranking constable in our Royal Malaysian Police Force was only RM690 previously.
   
   
2. At the same time, I lamented on the fact that despite the massive and many privatisation exercises conducted throughout the past 2 decades, of which a leaner and more efficient civil service of approximately 500,000 personnel was one of its key objectives, today the number of personnel exceeds more than double that target. This is one of the major failure of the Malaysian privatisation campaign for not reducing the heaving burden of the Government.
   
   
3. At the same time, we emphasised the fact that the record increase in pay will be “a waste of public funds, if the move is not accompanied by a corresponding increase in civil service productivity”. The weaknesses in the civil service can be seen on a daily basis, and certainly needs no lengthy elaboration.
   
   The unacceptable large building cracks in brand new government buildings as well as highways, the embarrassing leakages on the newly and expensively renovated Parliament as well as the Jalan Duta mega-court complex as well as the poorly negotiated highway contracts are just the tip of the iceberg of an faltering Public Works Department (PWD).
   
   Complaints made by foreign investors on the bureaucratic investment climate in Malaysia is one of the key causes for a foreign direct investment decline of 45.6% from US$7.3 billion in 1996 to US$3.97 billion 10 years later in 2005. As put forward by Vince Leusner, the president of the American Malaysian Chamber of Commerce, "the Malaysian government can do a better job in making regulations less imposing to businesses.” An example of the red tape, foreign investors claim that it can take half a year to get a work permit, compared with less than a week in Singapore.
   
   Singapore, on the other hand, more than doubled their foreign direct investment from US$9.7 billion to US$20.1 billion over the same period. To quote Asian Strategy Leadership Institute director Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam said Malaysia cannot be too protective in the world of rapid globalisation. "The world does not owe us a living and we have to struggle to improve at a faster pace or be left behind."
   

Instead of challenging the Party and myself for an apology and for the benefit of the future of Malays and all other Malaysians, Khairy should do away with emotive arguments as well as semantics, and focus on the issues at hand, that is:

1. How to prevent our education system from churning out graduates who are unable to gain employment which befit their qualifications despite the large number of advertised vacancies in the market;
   
   
2. How to improve our civil service delivery system to substantially increase the satisfaction of the rakyat and the successful completion of government projects; as well as
   
   
3. How to streamline a bloated civil service, disproportionate to the size of the Malaysian population to reduce the tremendous economic burden of the Government, where all things equal, the budget deficit is expected to increase from the projected 3.4% to a much higher 4.1% caused by the pay increase.

In line with the above, I'd like to issue an open challenge and invitation to the UMNO Deputy Youth Chief to a reasoned, collected and rational debate next Wednesday, 30th May 2007, 8 pm at the Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall. At the same time, we'll be inviting a panel of distinguished speakers who will share their views on the above questions.

In conclusion, I'd like to reiterate that my earlier statement was issued on the basis of facts and statistics provided by the Government itself. Hence, Khairy's call for an apology fails the address the issues highlighted by my statement, is totally unacceptable and without basis.

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Civil Service Excellence II

Purely due to coincidence, I was invited to be part of a roundtable discussion forum by Oriental Daily on Wednesday evening to discuss the issues relating to the record pay increment granted to the civil service. The other two participants were very experienced professionals and business owners who have been involved in town planning as well as engineering consultancy services for many years.

Mr Goh Bok Yen is a well-respected town and transport planning consultant who has obviously dealt with many many government civil service departments. Similarly, Ir Yong Yew Wei of Ismail dan Rakan Rakan, an engineering consultancy firm has had his share of experiences.

It was a discussion which lasted past 11pm, which included a teh tarik session at a mamak stall near the Oriental Daily office at Wisma Dang Wangi. The highlights of the discussion is published in today's copy of the Chinese paper. Do get a physical copy, if anything for the well presented charts alone.

Interestingly enough, Soon Li Tsin of Malaysiakini was quick to the draw to reconstruct the chart which made a comparison between Malaysia and many other countries in the region earlier this morning. It's now available in the article entitled "166,659 vacancies in 'bloated' civil service".

The ratio of the country’s civil service to the population is proportionately higher than other countries at 4.68 per cent.

This ratio comparatively doubles that of our neighbours as reported in Oriental Daily which showed Thailand’s ratio was 2.06%, Indonesia (1.79%) and Philippines (1.81%) in 2000.

The figures certainly lends (heavy) weight to the gist of my supposed controversial statement that the Civil Service needs to be trimmed for it's size is not only detrimental to overall efficiency but also a major financial burden on the Government.

Two other key points raised during the discussion included firstly, the need for a carrot and stick approach. The pay hike given is a very attractive carrot, and now its important to implement the stick approach.

...潘儉偉則認為，如果能夠推行一套監督鞭策的機制，調高薪金可以減少貪污。

「相較於新加坡政府，我們對公務員缺乏處罰的文化。在新加坡，公務員薪酬待遇高，同時當地政府對公務員行為有清楚明確的規範指南，在有效的監督下，新加坡公務員害怕失去眼前享受到的高待遇，所以普遍上在執行公務時，大部份皆能廉潔執行任務。」

I've also previously discussed this issue in my education blog post with regards to Datuk Seri Hishammuddin's "Pool of Doom".

In addition, I emphasized on the need for teachers and lecturers, as well as doctors to receive additional increments as the police and military force did.

潘儉偉認為，這次公務員調薪，政府特別額外加薪20%給軍警人員，是值得肯定。不過，在公務員隊伍裡，教師和醫生也應該給予特定的關注。

「在發展中國家，人力培訓是提昇全球競爭力的重要一環，所以提高教師的待遇，吸引好的人材投身教育領域，從而提昇學校的教學水準，加強人力素質，有助改善國家的競爭力。」

其次，目前本地醫生短缺，在國外唸醫科的本國優秀生，學成後因為國內政府醫院待遇較國外來得低，寧可留在國外發展，不願返國服務，使得本地政府醫院，祇好引進孟加拉、緬甸、巴基斯坦等國家的醫生，解決人手荒。

「因此，政府應該考慮提高政府醫生的待遇，以吸引留在國外的本國醫生返國服務。」

同時，潘表示，這波公務員調薪，固然有助提昇國人的購買力，促進經濟成長率，不過也會帶來新一波的通貨膨脹。

So happy reading the various news reports, and I'll try to put up my 3rd post on Civil Service Excellence as soon as possible. ;)

Read more!

Civil Service Excellence I

Only Utusan Malaysia followed up on yesterday's story whereby UMNO Youth Deputy Chief demanded an apology from DAP and myself amongst the mainstream press, prior to this morning's press conference. The demand was made in response to my Tuesday statement which sought for the Government to trim the bloated civil service, now that a record pay raise has been given.

And depending on how you read it, they were kind (or unkind) enough to put my picture on the front page! It carried 2 key stories, the first of which was a short conversation which I had with the reporter yesterday, headlined "Tony Pua tidak akan minta maaf"

Menurut Pua, tiada permohonan maaf akan diucapkan kerana mendakwa kenyataannya dalam Malaysiakini telah diputar belitkan oleh Naib Ketua Pergerakan Pemuda UMNO, Khairy Jamaluddin.

‘‘Saya tidak pernah mengeluarkan kenyataan bahawa semua penjawat awam hanya terdiri daripada orang Melayu yang mengalami masalah pengangguran.

‘‘Tetapi, kenyataan yang sebenarnya ialah hanya polisi kerajaan yang memerlukan Jabatan Perkhidmatan Awam (JPA) mengambil ramai graduan yang tidak dapat mencari pekerjaan,’’ katanya kepada Utusan Malaysia di sini hari ini.

[...]

Malah, menurut Pua, beliau pernah mencadangkan supaya jumlah kakitangan awam yang terlalu ramai dikurangkan selaras pelaksanaan program penswastaan sejak 20 tahun lalu untuk mengurangkan beban kewangan kerajaan serta meningkatkan kecekapan sistem penyampaian.

‘‘Salah satu matlamat utama program penswastaan yang dilancarkan oleh Perdana Menteri sebelum ini, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad adalah untuk mengurangkan bilangan kakitangan awam kepada kira-kira 500,000,’’ jelasnya.

Oleh itu, katanya, program penswastaan kerajaan boleh dianggap gagal kerana jumlah kakitangan kerajaan sekarang adalah dua kali ganda daripada matlamat tersebut.

At the same time, the UMNO Youth executive committee members took their turns to take potshots at me in the corresponding article entitled "Pemuda UMNO terus desak Tony Pua tarik balik kenyataan".

Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahalan, UMNO Youth Secretary:

...menegaskan permasalahan graduan Melayu ialah apabila syarikat-syarikat swasta terutamanya milik bukan Melayu tidak memberi peluang sama rata kepada graduan tersebut. Menurutnya, syarikat-syarikat berkenaan meletakkan banyak syarat yang tersurat dan tersirat sehingga menyukarkan graduan Melayu mendapatkan pekerjaan.

...Abdul Rahman berkata, syarikat swasta bukan Melayu tidak bersungguh-sungguh membantu graduan Melayu atas alasan tertentu.

‘‘Saya tidak percaya, semua graduan Melayu tidak mempunyai kelayakan yang berpatutan untuk memohon kerja dengan syarikat swasta bukan Melayu. Maka, jangan salahkan kerajaan kerana membantu menyediakan pekerjaan kepada mereka,’’ katanya.

Datuk Shamsul Anuar Nasarah, EXCO:

... mengingatkan DAP supaya tidak sekali-kali membangkitkan perkara yang boleh menimbulkan suasana tidak harmoni ketika tumpuan rakyat menyambut 50 tahun kemerdekaan negara. Katanya, memang perangai pemimpin DAP sentiasa mahu menimbulkan isu yang memperlihatkan seolah-olah tindakan dan dasar kerajaan semuanya tidak betul.

Namun, beliau berkata, kenyataan Pua itu jelas memperlihatkan pendirian DAP yang cuba menidakkan sumbangan besar kakitangan kerajaan dalam pembangunan negara sehingga diiktiraf antara yang terbaik oleh masyarakat antarabangsa.

There were also quotes in the physical paper, which isn't available online:

Omar Osman, CUEPACS president:

CUEPACS berasa amat terhina dengan kenyataan angkuh tersebut. Kenyataan aktivis DAP itu seolah-olah memperkecilkan bangsa Melayu. "Dalam sektor awam, ado semua kaum. Tony Pua perlu dapatkan bukti yang kukuh sebelum keluarkan kenyataan sedemikian."

(Me thinks, he didn't read my full statement)

Datuk Dr Nordin Kardi, Yang Dipertua Persatuan Badan Berkanun Malaysia:

Pelantikan ke jawatan perkhidmatan awam berdasarkan kepada kelayakan. Siapa yang layak akan diterima memasuki sektor kerajaan. "Jangan ssekali cuba memperkecilkan dan menghina dasar yang dibuat oleh negara. Nasihat saya kepadanya, jangan mempermainkan isu kaum."

(Read my statement, it's about improving the civil service, not about race!)

This is the best, from Abdul Karim Abdullah, Pegawai Seranta Persatuan Bekas Pegawai Perkhidmatan Pendidikan Malaysia:

Jika bukan kerajaan hendak mengambil rakyatnya bekerja maka siapa lagi? Adakah kita mahu bergantung kepada swasta semata-mata? "Adalah menjadi tanggungjawab kerajaan untuk menyediakan peluang pekerjaan kepada rakyatnya tidak dira Melayu, Cina, Iindia dan kaum bumiputera lain."

What do you think?

In the meantime, there's also a fair bit of response in the Malaysiakini Chinese and Malay editions, where some seem to have made comments without first carefully reading my statement.

Datuk Shamsul Amree Baharuddin yang juga Pengarah Alam Tamadun Melayu (Atma) UKM:

...kenyataan itu merupakan satu andaian yang dibuat dengan hujah yang longgar dan tidak boleh diterima.

Beliau bertanya bagaimanakah mereka boleh mengatakan graduan Melayu tidak berkualiti semata-mata kerana mereka bekerja dengan kerajaan. “Saya ingin bertanya apa ukuran kualiti bagi seorang graduan? Apa ukuran graduan universiti swasta lebih baik dari univesiti awam semata-mata mereka lebih ramai bekerja dengan swasta?"

[...]

Mengulas lanjut mengenainya, Shamsul Amree berkata kenyataan Pua itu lebih mencerminkan pandangan kaum yang diwakili oleh Pua.

First, he misses the point, then he hits below the belt. Hitting below the belt in the above manner isn't his first, for he did the same when responding to the controversial ASLI report which claimed that bumiputera equity had reached 45%.

“I am very sceptical about the study which has been carried out by a particular race. They (the race) usually have their own agendas,” said Shamsul. According to him, the study did not contain accurate facts.

Note that he subsequently denied have said the above. But it certainly looks like the pattern is repeating itself here.

Two more post on Civil Service Excellence coming up. Looks like I have unintentionally stirred up some heated response through a simple innocuous statement seeking to turn the civil service into a lean and mean "machine".

Read more!