Challenges As A Civil Servant

Kala Lupur, 20 December 2015 - Good morning mek, tok we, abe, adik, kakok, pok cik & mok cik and readers. Happy Reading.

What would you do when you are asked to implement a political decision that you consider may anger public and people as a whole?

As a civil servant you just have to do it. You serve the rakyat based on orders, instructions and policies made by the politicians. The politicians, in this context refer to the government of the day elected by the people such as the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Chief Ministers and Excos. They decide what the government plan to do for the country. 

Under the democracy system which our country has been adopting since Independence, lawmakers who won the election and command the majority, form the government. The Parliament, is an institution of highest authority debates, votes and decides laws governing the country and it is part of the democracy system. The Parliament also approves money for the government to spend within the parameters set in the laws. 

There are two sides of group in the parliament. The group that form the government and the other one is the group who are not part of the government. Both members of the groups have won the constituency seats in the general election. It means, the members are the elected representative of the people. The democracy system practically recognises, only the group that forms the government able to carry out responsibilities for and on behalf of the people because the rule "majority wins" is the essence of democracy.

Okeh, merapu banyok pulok aku pasal sistem demokrasi nih. Let's continue...

The civil service is the machinery exists to serve the government which has a mandate from the parliament. The government decides and approves policies, programs, implements projects, activities and renders services for the people because they are chosen and elected to do it. That is the government's responsibilities. Who will execute these things? The civil servants!!!

Back to the question "what would you do when you are asked to implement a political decision that you consider may anger public and people as a whole?

As a civil servant, the above question should not arise at all. The execution of a political decision by the government is the absolute responsibilities of the civil servants. Failing to fulfil its responsibilities will make them deserve for a strongest condemnation by the government. On the other side, the Opposition has no authority rights to call upon the government's civil servants not to obey, comply or follow the governments instructions.

Jeng jeng jeng.....dilema dilema nih....pah nok wat gano nih?

To join the civil service requires certain quality. Among the pre-requites are ability to analyse, critical thinking, decisive and most importantly is the ability to advise the government. Civil servant is the pulse and brain of the government. They are located in villages, districts, states and federal administration capital. Some are posted overseas in the neigbouring countries, the near region and far away of the globe. A significant number of personel are also embedded in the society, community and economy as the government representatives in NGO organisations, universities, institutions, corporations and world bodies. 

Information is in the hands of the civil servants because of their mammoth spread and variety of service they are doing. This is the power that no body should take for granted even the political masters. That is why a civil servant plays important roles in developing and preserving the prosperity of the country. Formulating policies, drafting and enforcing laws, executing programs, fulfilling the needs of the people upon orders by the government, are all placed on the shoulder of the civil servants. Thereafter, they are the ones who monitor and evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of the outcome post-implementation. How well the people receive, react, respond and determine the future fate of the government.

Should an officer feels that a political decision may cause negative effects to the people or country, he or she must has a sense of responsibility to properly advise the consequence from the implementation of the decision. Do not stop there. The concerned officer should be ready with alternatives to offer to the politicians who give the command. There are many ways and means to complement the politicians make a decision. The officer of course needs to be knowledgeable and experienced on the government's policies, rules, regulations, procedures, contraints and capable to anticipate of the future. Again, it is all about information plus the qualities that have been mentioned in the above paragraphs.

What about if the politicians do not budge? The words "just do it" come out from that politicians. Then, there is no more "multiple" choices like A, B, C, etc. Just Do It. But of cource, it has to follow proper procedures, processes and go through the righful approval authority. At this stage, a civil servant has to fulfill its pledge and responsibility to serve the government of the day.

Consequences? If it turns out that the people get angry, protest and suffer from the implementation of a decision by the politicians, the civil service should not be put in the trial chamber of the people's court. The judge and the prosecutor is only one, The People who determines the future fate of the government and its politicians.

Meanwhile, a civil servant will continue to do their jobs serving the people. Your politics? Just leave it at home. 

-- Ripin Niknah