MP: Many civil servants lack knowledge in good public service

MIRI: A parliamentarian here observes that many government officials lack the maturity and knowledge in good public service and policies.

Miri MP Dr Michael Teo says such ignorance has occasionally resulted in them making ‘shocking statements’ that may jeopardise the country’s image.

“Yes, many top civil servants in Malaysia are not broadminded and probably, they lack exposure,” he said, adding that many have come out with ‘very immature, racially-sensitive statements that raise eyebrows all over the world’.

Dr Teo’s remarks came in response to a suggestion put forth by Council of Eminent Persons (CEP) chairman Tun Daim Zainuddin recently, in which the latter said civil servants from Sarawak and Sabahshould to be sent overseas to pursue post-graduate studies.

In an hour-long interview with Astro Awani recently, Daim expressed his support for Sarawak and Sabah to have the autonomy, but the two states must first have ‘ proper policymakers’.

“In fact if it were up to me, give them autonomy. If they say they can do it, it is good for them – let them do it.

“But to execute the policies, they need experts. I have told them countless times in Sabah and Sarawak, they should send civil servants for post-grad studies overseas” Daim, 80, was quoted as having said.

Nevertheless on this subject, Dr Teo had his doubts about the practical side of sending the civil servants were not even conversant in English.

“Many civil servants are not even conversant in English – even teachers teaching in English are not good in English,” he claimed.