A youthful awakening in public sector

The civil service has always prided itself as the nation’s backbone. In this new Malaysia, the role of young government employees will become even more important than before.

IN 2011, Belgium went 541 days without a government. Yes, you read that right.

After its federal elections on June 13, 2010, Belgium was left with a very fragmented political landscape. It was only after one and a half years that a coalition government was sworn in, prompting The Washington Post to report that “the Belgian civil service created a world record” (besting Iraq and Cambodia in the process).

How did the country not fall apart without a government? How did all hell not break loose?

Brussels Express suggested this was due to “a well-oiled bureaucracy” and went as far as to rather cheekily say that “the country’s notoriously complex and cumbersome bureaucracy became a saving grace in a time of crisis”.

“Its multitude of apolitical civil servants kept government services up and running,” noted the online daily.

(There were reports of Belgians jokingly calling for a boycott of sex with politicians, but let’s keep this column family-friendly.)

In Malaysia, while we didn’t have to wait long for a new government after GE14, there was certainly an environment of anxiety, fear and concern. After all, for the first time in 60 years, there was a change of government.

Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad relied on his experience to ensure an efficient and swift transition.

A fact not as often appreciated is that our civil servants, from the police to the army to the Administrative and Diplomatic Officers (PTDs) and others, were there throughout.

The civil servants kept the public sector running. Rumours of mutiny, circulating via WhatsApp, proved unfounded.

Similarly, between the swearing-in of the first set of ministers in May and of the most recent batch on Monday, the civil servants demonstrated that they are focused and committed in serving the rakyat. The doctors diagnosed, the teachers taught and the police protected. They stepped up for the government of the day.

As the nation moves forward, the role played by the civil service, especially young incoming officers, becomes even more important.

With greater public demand for accountability, transparency and efficiency, there is a need to ensure the younger generation are empowered and able to meet these expectations.

Last week, I had the privilege of training incoming civil servants undergoing their Diploma in Public Administration (DPA) programme at National Institute of Public Administration (Intan).

Completing the DPA is a rite of passage for these officers, with some reports stating that about 40,000 to 50,000 Malaysians apply to join the PTD scheme yearly, with less than 5% succeeding.

Most of the 87 officers in my training session were young and of entry level (Grade 41). A few were JUSA C (senior positions). The group was from various backgrounds, includ- ing difference races and religions. It was a truly Malaysian bunch.

The training was part of their English proficiency improvement module (a praiseworthy focus of the new government) and my role was to teach them how to handle media and prepare press releases. The session turned out to be very insightful and thought-provoking.

The young civil servants were curious about dealing with the media, with one asking, “Should we ever give anonymous comments?” Firmly, I said “No”. It would be a bad habit to inculcate and could lead to disarray in the service.

Another then asked, “What about going off the record?”

For a moment I paused. This was a tricky question, and as a former press secretary, I had gone off the record before (sometimes it was the best way to provide context).

While not an uncommon practice within the media, it could blur ethical boundaries. I pointed out this potential conflict and reminded them that their utmost duty was to the government and by virtue thereof, the rakyat, to whom they hold a position of trust ( amanah).

Many of the young officers were excited to play a role in communicating the new government’s policies.

However, some said they felt restricted due to the hierarchical and bureaucratic nature of the civil service, meaning they had to resort to social media, sometimes anonymously, to express their views.

Having served the government for almost five years in the Education and Higher Education Ministries, I was fortunate to be in a position where I could share my views and express myself rather openly.

Not all civil servants my age had the same privilege. I also had a good boss who empowered me.

A former director-general once told me that she would encourage her younger officers to speak up and let their voices and opinions be heard. She took it upon herself to nurture and foster critical thought within the decorum and discretion expected of a civil servant.

I remember thinking to myself that this is why leadership is so important. Without leadership, there is no empowerment.

Spending time with these young civil servants sent a jolt of nostalgia through me.

Being part of policy making and implementation is one of the greatest rewards one could experience – it is, after all, playing a role in nation building.

I believe that our young civil servants, who form part of the 1.4 million strong civil service, will continue to define our new Malaysia as much as this new government does in the years to come. Danial Rahman has education close to his heart and welcomes feedback at danialrahman0330@ gmail.com. The views expressed here are entirely the writer’s own.