LATELY, the public service has been receiving bouquets and brickbats. Malaysia’s nine-point jump to the 15th position in the World Bank’s 2019 Report on the Ease of Doing Business is a glowing testament to its continued efficiency. But, the public service has also been accused of corruption and silent rebellion against the new government.
Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad raised an issue that goes to the root of public service ethos. He questioned the professionalism of public servants who had openly rooted at the hustings for the then ruling Barisan Nasional (BN).
The government’s displeasure is palpable. It has raised the ire of no less than Dr Mahathir himself and Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng, not to mention other ministers who feel fouled by the obdurate behaviour.
They have castigated the apparent disloyalty of some public servants whose allegiance still hews to the dethroned government. The Umno-helmed BN had been in power for six decades. Public servants have known only BN as the government throughout their career. That has blurred the distinction, in the minds of some of the public servants, between government and political party.
Dr Mahathir has called on them to respect democracy and reorient themselves to serving the current government or face the consequences. When closing the 2019 Budget, Lim urged this group to change their uncooperative ways or resign. The new chief secretary to the government has also reminded public servants of their duty to the current government.
A similar situation prevailed after the 13th general election in 2013 when the hitherto opposition defeated BN in four states. Public servants in those states were conflicted as to who their true political masters were.
They had known no government other than BN since Independence, excepting the government in Kelantan. However, the values of being loyal to the government of the day trumped over their initial trepidation.
After six months in power, that should have been the case for the new government. Alas, it is not. This raises two issues. One, can a public servant continue to owe allegiance to leaders of the previous government?
Two, can he subvert the actions of the new government just because it is not aligned to his political inclination?
The answers are of course obvious. But a public servant, disoriented by the surprising installation of a new government that he had viewed as the opposition, might at best only grudgingly give his fidelity to the incoming government; at worst, he might become a covert saboteur.
The concern of the prime minister and the chief secretary over public-service neutrality must be viewed, not only in the context of a legitimate government being hijacked by the partisan sentiments of a troublesome few, but as a broader apprehension over the erosion of a cherished value of the public service. Without a commonly shared set of values and obligations, no democratic government can function effectively. Further, the fear is that a relaxation of any part of its values might result in the unravelling of the public service.
Officers who find it hard to accept the new government fail to see the big picture. They do not understand that their position is there to serve the nation through their service to the government of the day. And that their allegiance to an elected government is integral to a well-functioning democracy. Political neutrality helps honour the trust reposed by the public in government. The public too will perceive good governance where the public service proffers undivided loyalty to ministers as elected representatives.
This loyalty requires a public servant to act with integrity. Indeed, it will be a great disservice to the nation if a public servant withholds his support or fails to advise his minister or execute policies appropriately.
Public servants should rein in their private opinions, and uphold the government elected by the people. They should be constantly reminded of their duty to the government, whatever its shortcomings.
Public-service leaders, meanwhile, should engage with their subordinates on the noble values that ensure the public service’s pride of place in society.
Public-service leaders should also document the conduct expected of their officers. However, it would be disingenuous to assume that a mere distribution of a code of conduct will automatically produce the desired behaviour. It must be followed up with constant communication and clarity of expectation of what is proper behaviour.
Mark Twain once said, “Patriotism is supporting your country all the time and your government when it deserves it”.
A government duly elected by the people is deserving of our support.
The writer is a former public servant, is a principal fellow at the Graduate School of Business, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia