THE appointment of Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar as the new Chief Secretary to the Government (KSN) in early August took some by surprise.
After all his former position was as Director-General of the Public-Private Partnership Unit (Ukas). Usually, the promotion to KSN is a natural progression for a Secretary General (KSU) such as Tan Sri Ismail Bakar from the Transport Ministry and Tan Sri Sidek Hassan who served in the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) and Shamsul’s predecessor Tan Sri Zuki Ali who was from the Ministry of Defence.
One of the most decorated civil servants Tan Sri Samsuddin Osman was Director General of the Public Service.
The current KSN Shamsul however does not have the distinction of the first civil servant to be elevated to KSN from UKAS. That distinction belongs to the late Tan Sri Ali Hamsa who served from 2012 to 2018.
Shamsul has large shoes to fill but that he comes with credentials of his own and a clean slate gives one optimism that the system will improve.
His appointment fits well into Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s pledge for reforms of the civil service where eradicating corruption and improving the delivery system are high on the agenda.
Just a month into his appointment Shamsul announced several changes in top posts in the civil service involving several KSUs and other officers
Significantly Ministry of Human Resources (Kesuma) KSU Datuk Seri Khairul Dzaimee Daud will be transferred to the
Ministry of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives (Kuskop).
Datuk Awang Alik Jeman, previously the Senior Deputy Secretary-General at JPM has been promoted to KSU of the Home Ministry.
He replaces Datuk Ruji Ubi who moves to the Education Ministry.
Kesuma and the Home Ministry have in recent times been subject to scrutiny over allegations of corruption, poor of governance and abuse of power – more so Kesuma following a less than favourable assessment by the Auditor General and the Public Accounts Committee on the administration of the Human Resources Development Corporation (HRDCORP).
Shamsul however said the movements were in tandem with the generous salary adjustment – 13% – announced by the prime minister on August 16.
This could put to rest some of the criticisms the prime minister has been facing for his over-eager gestures to please the civil service.
Let’s be real. The Madani pitch of reforms, good governance, working hard for the people and eradication of corruption and malaise is not a sexy proposition to a powerful group that has within its ranks, those who fear change for their own self-interests and preservation.
After plying them with carrots, the prime minister appears to be taking out the rotan and putting in place his plan to overhaul the service.
By his own admission the reforms, are not happening fast enough.
It is said the civil service is a cartel and one needs to tread carefully to cut off the head.
The prime minister appears to be doing so in his approach to win hearts and minds from something as simple as having the monthly assembly indoors instead of the blazing sun as has been the practice for years.
His measured jibes at senior civil servants appears to be done in good humour but the subtle message is “I know you can sabotage me”.
That Putrajaya, the hub of the civil service voted for Perikatan Nasional’s Datuk Seri Radzi Jidin is a testament that the public sector did not warm up to the unity coalition.
It remains to be seen if the carrot and stick approach will bear fruit. Several senior public servants have been charged with corruption and abuse of power while the Auditor General has been given a carte blanche to go anywhere and dig up anything.
Malaysians have been impatient with the pace of reforms. The sincerity of PH which campaigned on reforms came into question when it did a deal with Umno for survival. And the sluggish stride has been attributed to political compromise for mutual benefit.
One however underestimates the power of the civil service which can make or break an administration.
This is the prime minister’s biggest challenge as he is dependent on them to implement his policies. He has to juggle interests of multiple political parties and influential individuals including foes whom he now has to work with.
Add that to 1.7 million civil servants – among the world’s largest, the prime minister has an unenviable task of having them work with him and for him.
Perhaps he should just rip off the band aid and take harder action, such as demotions and sending to the pool (the civil service’s version of Siberia).
The Abdullah Badawi administration did just that under Sidek Hassan who did the unpopular thing by demoting and transferring senior civil servants.
Anwar could have a revolt on his hands or he could end up with a more compliant workforce. The truth of the matter is he has given enough carrots. It is time for the stick!
He is running out of time. But he should be bolstered by the fact that the taxpayers who pay the salaries of these civil servants will be behind him.– September 8, 2024
Terence Fernandez is editor in chief of Big Boom Media which publishes Scoop