The task in resetting Malaysia

A FEW days after swearing in as the 10th Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim met the top management of the various ministries in Putrajaya.

This group comprises the Administrative and Diplomatic (PTD) officers, the creme de la creme of the civil service who hold key leadership posts. They plan, monitor and ensure effective public service delivery.

As expected the prime minister reminded the secretaries-general that his government will not tolerate corruption and will not allow leakages at any levels. Among the instructions given was to optimise available resources and to ensure any government aid is given out to those who are really in need.

“He wants us to correct what was wrong, to fight against corruption and to give new ideas in reviving the economy,” said one official.

Then the floor was opened for these PTD officers to speak.

“We were looking forward to meet the prime minister. This is the best time for us to reset and improve how things are being run in the ministries,” said an official.

One of the issues raised is the position of the principal private secretary to the prime minister, deputy prime minister and private secretary to ministers. They requested for the posts to be filled by PTD officers, instead of appointing outsiders to run these offices.

One of the responsibilities of the private secretaries is keeping track of the diary of the boss and his engagements.

A retired PTD officer who served under a former prime minister said the person in that capacity is the liaison between the prime minister, the secretaries-general, Ministers and Mentris Besar.

“They would see the PM directly but when they did not get a chance, it was done through me. The PM was always on the move, so I would be instructed to convey these messages to these personalities too. It is important to understand the PM’s messages before they are conveyed,” said the pensioner.

There have been many complaints among the senior government servants in the past about the lack of understanding and cooperation between some staff in offices of the PM, ministers and civil servants to enable a good working relationship with the government of the day.

“We know that they are extremely busy and we do not simply ask for an appointment unless it was important for us to brief them.”

“But sometimes we feel that a wall has been put up, making it difficult for us to do our job. It was frustrating,” said a senior official.

There were also whispers in the corridors of ministries that on some occasions these PTD officers received the brunt including being shouted at for purported inefficiency. When you are not from within the civil service, problems will arise if you are not familiar with how things are being conducted.

“You must know the system. You must be able to understand the process, procedures especially legally related matters in running the government.

“Civil servants must be given due respect in not only advising the prime minister but also the Cabinet members,” said an officer.

These PTD officers felt that the change in governments in the last five years has further battered the civil service image and it didn’t help that there were officers marked as supporters of certain political parties removed and sent to the “pool”, a loose term for cold storage. There were several cases of ministers, unhappy with their secretaries-generals for reasons best known to them, had these top level officers swapped ministries.

The prime minister, since assuming office, has been saying the right things in addressing what ails the civil service. In his speech at the Prime Minister’s Department gathering, Anwar called on all civil servants to work alongside his administration, saying it is impossible for ministers to achieve success without the civil service.

The Administrative and Diplomatic Officers’ Alumni Association president Tan Sri Halim Ali has urged the new government to legislate a Public Services Act. In an open letter to the prime minister, he said such an Act would create a professional civil service with a clear delineation of functions, power and authority between the administration and civil service.

“It is of vital importance to avoid any political interference in public service appointments, as well as in administrative and financial management, especially in the award of contracts.

“Audit findings point to constant leakages and substantial losses incurred by the government due to non-adherence to financial standard operating procedures as a result of such interference,” said Halim, who served as Chief Secretary to the Government from 1996 to 2001.

All secretaries-general and department heads must be allowed to perform their functions and fulfil their responsibilities without fear or favour, he added.

Anwar, who is also the Finance Minister, has confirmed the impending change of the Treasury secretary-general, calling it a normal course of action. More than two weeks later the position has yet to be filled up.

It is understood there will be movement among the secretaries-generals and indications have been given to a few of them which ministry they would be heading. But until now there have been no announcements on this from the Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali.

Should there be changes at the top management of the ministries, this unity government should make an effort to hold a retreat involving the ministers and the secretaries-generals to coordinate administrative issues and avoid misunderstanding each other’s role.

This government, hopefully, will complete its term and bring back some form of the country’s glorious days to benefit the rakyat who elected them to sit in Putrajaya.