Professionalism at the workplace

The MB and PKR believe that the Federation of Malaya constitutional principles of 1957 have been violated by the 1993 amendments to the Selangor state constitution. The sultan believes he was only being professionally regaled without any political malice or preference, but a photograph in the New Straits Times however showed him not looking the new state secretary in the eye.  

The former state secretary is quiet and now an advisor to the royal court. The private secretary to the sultan is another Administrative and Diplomatic Service (PTD) officer who appears serious, sincere, and truth seeking and truth-telling; at least from the outside. But I wonder where he really takes his orders from. We, the people are frustrated with all this wayang kulit show. Whither professionalism in the public governance of this nation?

In a previous column I had suggested that the cabinet may have already taken a trip to Abilene when it allowed the Public Services Commission (JPA) and the chief secretary to appoint whomever they or the system wished to be the state secretary of Selangor; with only a preferential proxy consultation with the state government representative, and the head of state.

The JPA and state government representative aka the state secretary chose to only consult the sultan and not the MB.  

In yet another earlier column I had questioned why the Parliamentary Audit Committee had allowed and not objected when the current director-general was going to be appointed; if they had understood the serious default of responsibility and accountability during the incumbent’s term as the chief controlling officer of the Defence Ministry; wherein many of the audit queries and observations were highlighted and not properly corrected.  

Adopt US system to review appointees?

I had then suggested that the Parliament (i.e. as the legislature) consider whether or not in order to improve accountability and responsibility under the public service leadership structure, we adopt the American system of review of the presidential appointees by Congress. Now, allow me to develop this idea a little further.

Allow me therefore to quote what the private secretary to the Selangor Sultan said, as reported in The Sun : “I would like to state here that I am neither an Umno member nor Parti Keadilan Rakyat politician, and as a government servant it is my duty to be neutral and professional, and to follow the guidelines of my duties.”  

I would like all senior public servants to be able to say that “while looking at themselves in the mirror every morning.” I suggest that most cannot say it with honesty while looking squarely into their own eyes. We all need time to review ourselves in the mirror so that we can reflect integrity issues, and to quote the chief secretary, “when no one else is watching.”

What then is this kind of professionalism in the public services? I am sorry but it surely cannot constitute going to perform the umrah with a business partner or colleague; whatever the reason or rationale. It is never accepting a “gift of more than of an ornamental value”, from anyone else who is not a personal and emotional friend or acquaintance.

It is, as the chief secretary first said it publicly in NST after taking office, “Doing the right things right even when no one is watching.”

My comment therefore to my four PTD colleagues involved; I agree that you have not done anything legally wrong, but the real question is did you uphold the principles that we have sworn to uphold; either in terms of the Rukunegara or even the principles of our parliamentary system of our constitutional democracy?

Or, to paraphrase the chief secretary in my own words on this matter of integrity; would you repeat the same actions, if you now know what the unintended consequences are for now?

The PTD officers, in my eyes and view, have actually become or assumed the role of king-makers. Our service has become the dalang in this wayang kulit show. Please read Dr Dzul’s blog for those who want to know who he thinks is the real dalang . Or, maybe this is our version of Yes, Minister , or even Yes, Prime Minister ?

Publicly neutral role

But is not the publicly neutral role of the PTD as traditionally upheld by the Malaysian Civil Service Corps more important for real and serious national development ala Vision 2020? Now that we are actually moving towards a two-party state of governance, is not the force of public interest governance the most important and third force?

Is it not such core values within the British Public Services which becomes obvious and visible even today, and thereby makes them so professional? How else can Citizen Nades, as a journalist, assume a very public service-like role so eloquently, writing even from London with his experience there?  

Dear chief secretary, I like the vehemence with which you said that the state secretary’s appointment did not involve the prime minister, and I believe you. But how can I be sure that your right hand person who is the director-general is not a card-carrying Umno member and proxy for the PM? After all, the chief justice is and the AG shows all the colours.  

Can the director-general swear that he is not an Umno-type proxy; appointed to sit in the chief public human resources role having faithfully served the former defence minister?

Well sir, while you are the cabinet secretary and of ministerial rank, why did you not take a more serious personal role in the appointment of the state secretary of Selangor? Why did you not meet with the Menteri Besar of Selangor; your colleague of equal stature; and even an ex-officio member of the Council of Rulers?

Dear chief secretary, it is my considered opinion that the only way the public services can become more professional at the workplace is if you change the sign-off from “ saya yang menurut perintah ” towards “ saya yang bertanggongjawab .”

With Selangor’s impending political crisis and conflict of leadership in the state, I hate to think we may have to revert to the days of feudal lordship when files are thrown and public servants verbally abused. Such observed abusive action of public servants was the “wrong motivation for why I pursued my PhD on the topic or organisation culture and workplace dignity”.

The public services must move towards professionalism without fear or favour. The only way forward is to become what John Rohr calls, the fourth arm of governance; wherein the public services adopts a very professional code of ethics which always speaks to truth and acts always based on truth matters. Then as the private secretary to the sultan said, whether you take side A or side B, one does one’s job with honesty and full integrity; without fear or favour.

May God bless all of us to do so.