DAP's political agenda?

KUALA LUMPUR: The Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Services (Cuepacs) chief Datuk Omar Osman said the suggestion by DAP to reduce the number of civil servants in the country was a move to serve the party's own political agenda.

Omar questioned why did DAP wants to model the civil service in Malaysia after China, when the country had its own policy that has been in practice for a long time.

“It seems the suggestion by DAP is leaning towards serving their interests rather than that of the nation. Why does DAP have to question about this now, after the government had done a lot to improve the livelihood of civil servants? Omar said when contacted by The Mole.

Pointing that the majority of civil servants were Malays, Omar said that the civil servants were loyal employees of the people for a long time, even during a time when the opportunities and remuneration were not as attractive as the private sector.

“Even when the positions were offered to the the non-Malays, not many were interested because the private sector was paying more with better benefits," Omar said.

He added that DAP or any other party that had issues with the civil service should highlight those matters with Cuepacs and other relevant public service bodies rather than making populist political statements.

“Tony Pua and DAP have hurt the civil servants inner most feelings. He makes the civil servants feel unappreciated with such remarks,” he added.

DAP Publicity Secretary Tony Pua Kiam Wee (pic) had reportedly said during a conference in Johor Baru that Pakatan Rakyat (Pakatan) would reduce the number of civil servants should they come to power under special project called “Project to Reduce Government Servants”

Pua whose statement was published by Sin Chew also said the government would weed out the incompetent workers while old workers would be asked to retire.

Pua has pointed to the People's Republic of China as a model in restructring the Malaysian civil service.

National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP) president Hashim Adnan thinks Pua's statement was nothing more than a publicity stunt.

“I think he only wanted to cause uneasiness among the Malays by playing up this issue,” Hashim said.

Hashim believes Pua was fishing for Chinese votes as his statement implied that reducing the Malay civil servants would equate to reducing them (Malays) in national administration.

Hashim stressed that such 'political plans' to were not viable especially in the education sector where the steady increase of students demanded more teachers.

“For NUTP, it is not the right time to reduce the number of civil servants in the country. We have our own ways in running our country, why must we follow other people’s way?” he quipped, referring to Pua's idea of emulating China.

Pas-led Kedah state government have however came out strongly against the DAP leader's suggestion to downsize the civil service.

Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak has not only shot down Pua's suggestion as something unwise but hinted of a pay-hike for government servants in the state.

“I do not agree because we need civil servants to handle government administration.

“With the increase in population we need more people to handle public services,” Azizan said after chairing the state executive council meeting here yesterday.

Azizan said the Kedah Government appreciated its civil servants and would announce a salary increase for them in the state’s 2012 Budget that would be tabled next week.

“We are emulating what the Federal Go­­vernment is doing. We will announce the new salary scheme next week,” he added. - TheStar

A blog posting written by Shen Yee Aun had criticised the plan, saying that if it is implemented, it would affect the livelihood of 85 per cent Malays in the civil service.

“DAP has to realise that there were a lot of Malays who voted them in the last election,” the post read.

IThe blogger also stated that retirement age should not be an issue when Pakatan Rakyat leaders like Lim Kit Siang, Karpal Singh and Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz were all way beyond 60 but still active in their 'job'.

Tongue in cheek, Shee Yee Aun suggested that Pua should also ask Kit Siang, Karpal and Nik Aziz  to retire as well.

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Source: MOLE