MACC chief: Stop the bodek culture as it's ruining the country

Datuk Seri Mohd Shukri Abdull. -APpic

PETALING JAYA: Stop the “bodek-bodeking” (brown-nosing) culture in the public service, warned the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner, as it is ruining the country.

Datuk Seri Mohd Shukri Abdull (pic) reminded civil service directors-general and heads of departments to stop being “yes men” to ministers and deputy ministers.

“Do your own work and don’t interfere in others’ tasks. Bahkan, saya bagi amaran, pegawai kerajaan mulai dari sekarang ‘stop bodek-bodeking’ ini. (In fact, I am warning civil servants, from now on, stop the brown-nosing," he said.

“By right, ministers have no authority on projects, they can only create policies. That is why the directors-general and heads of departments must be brave enough to say no.

“Do not be ministers’ crutches or their yes men. It does not matter if we get kicked around as long as we are doing the right thing,” he told Sinar Harian in an interview at his office on Wednesday (June 20).

Mohd Shukri added that the separation of powers between the legislative, executive and judiciary should be followed, and boundaries of authority should be clear at each level.

“Do not ever breach the boundaries of another person’s job scope. That can cause chaos.

“For instance, a minister drafts a policy to develop an area and the implementation of this comes under the executive, so let the executive do the job,” said Mohd Shukri.

“The legislative group should not pitch in by demanding to pick this or that person for the job."

He also said heads of departments, especially those in enforcement divisions, must give clear and accurate advice to ministers, deputy ministers and other policymakers.

“Only say yes if you know it’s true, don’t just say yes, yes, yes although the matter may be untrue. You must be brave,” he said, adding that they should refer to the MACC if they were unclear about instructions.

Mohd Shukri also called on directors-general and heads of departments to be bold enough to give the right advice as demanded by their rank.

“If you are not brave enough to say no to something that is not right, then it’s better to not hold that position in the first place,” he said.

He suggested that the Government should appreciate those who have served with full integrity and not “kaki bodek” (apple polishers), who should be kicked out as they were ruining the country’s system.

 “Look at the situation now, when misdeeds are exposed, who wants to help? No one does, only we can help ourselves,” said Mohd Shukri.

“Get angry at me if you want, I am saying the truth and truth hurts but it’s worth it."