Followers

Friday, November 21, 2008

HAVE YOU EVER HAD A MEETING WITH THE CIVIL SERVICE LORDS?

Do you not get tired when you have to put on a plastic face of respect when you meet some people? Consider this hypothetical scenario:

Let us say you have to attend a meeting at the Ministry. There is the Chief secretary (KSU) chairing the meeting, next the ministry’s legal adviser, then you have a few high ranking officials sitting in as well, looking sleepy and clueless. (do you notice these high ranking officials have a certain similar voice and demeanor as if they all went to the same drama classes?)

The KSU starts off with his usual ‘bismillah” because all those present happen to be Muslims. I have always found it weird why this very same people do not mention “in the name of God” when non-Muslims are present. Is it because God is averse to non-Muslims? Also, it is equally weird that he does not say “in the name of God” for every single step he takes since he is so mindful of God! Maybe he does. And why must he say it aloud….concerned that God cannot hear him?

Maybe, it is all a show for the audience, …….. had he really taken all his decisions in the name of God, this very meeting would have been irrelevant! Unless he plainly suffers oxygen deficiency syndrome to his brains in which case you wonder why he is sitting where he is sitting. And the Rakyat would have saved some money too.

But I have always found this behavior fascinating. Malay politicians and civil servants love to rattle praises about God in public before they start off their verbal diarrhea or unwanted advice. Some of them are so long, your patience is tested. Kenapa tak baca puji-pujian awal-awal sebelum mula mesyuarat? It is almost a must-do-ritual. Even though the Quran that they are supposed to read says “call and praise your Lord in silence and humility”, they insist on doing it publicly and loudly. You really wonder why.

Being a Muslim, I take anyone who says "Bismillah" seriously. He better walk his talk for Allah detests hypocrites.

Back to the meeting room. You wonder whether they have read the 12 page report you have sent them some 2 months back. They are asking the very questions you have already written down so plainly even a primary school kid will understand. And Lord…..you have to keep referring to this man as Datuk and the way his subordinates call him “Datuk” really can empty your stomach though your mouth. You keep excusing yourself to the toilet.

While the “meeting” is going on, you wonder what the names of the officials are because none of them have been introduced to you. Mahathir’s name tag policy seems to be long gone. This is the message that they are the “Gomen” and need not come down to the Rakyat’s level by introducing themselves. Ethics and common sense need not necessarily follow those who utter God’s name.

Anyway, after going through the motion of what should have been a productive meeting, the meeting ends with a “Kita tunggu lah, keputusan mesyuarat ini”. In the meantime, he does not care in the slightest that many of your worker’s families are suffering. He has his family to go back to. And you wait and wait.

Many times I wonder what religion these people belong to. Surely people of God must be compassionate, caring, emphatic and diligent? They should be responsible and work for the salaries that the taxpayers pay them – otherwise it is theft.

I promise in name of Allah, God willing of course, with the strength and guidance which I hope He provides, these people will be brought to justice for taking God’s Way in vain. God’s Way, as I understand is, among other things, the way of Justice, fair play, honesty accountability and dedication to your work.

Retirement and resignation is no escape from culpability.

Since we lack radical political leadership and political will to reform the civil service, the burden must fall on the shoulders of Raperas.

3 comments:

rejal said...

Bro Jahabar,
A lot has been said about politicians interfering in some decision making process of the government. It is true only partially.
For what usually happen when it comes to decisions like the giving of licenses and permits for various economic activities, it is these little and not so little napoleans who actually hold the power to approve. And they call the shots.
And these civil servants (I don't know what is so civil about some of them) are supposed to help the Bumiputers in various business ventures but the genuine Bumiputeras who hold dearly to what has been enjoined by the Quran, thus not willing to grease palms, will be set aside and rejected in favour of an Ali Baba outfit even with dubious competency.
Inilah dia nasib Melayu yang jujur dan takutkan Allah selalunya diketepikan oleh these 'lords of the civil service' who have betrayed the trust given to them.
I only hope the culprit napoleans will read your blog dan akan insaf.

Unknown said...

Alhamdulillah. Doa saya di makbulkan juga oleh allah hari ini. Ini kerana perasaan geram kecewa dan kesal yang terpendam di lubok hati ini akhirnya telah diterjemah kan oleh hamba allah ini. Semoga allah memelihara dan melindungi nya kerana negara "Kita Malaysia tidak perlu ramai org utk memperjuangkan nasib org melaysia dan khusus nya org melayu, jika mereka semua hipokrit dan tidak jujur maka terjadi lah apa yang terjadi sekarang ini di mana negara sudah merdeka lebih 50 tahun tapi anak bangsa masih terkial kial di bumi yang tercinta ini.Pemimpin melaung slogan demi slogan bumiputera akan di bela di bantu serta mempunyai keistimewaan kerana di gelar bumiputera.
Tapi aneh nya "Si Mamat kecil ini ganti nama bagi little napoleans" mempunyai kuasa rakus yang kuat dan luas kerana mereka berlagak tuhan menghukum dan menerajang anak bangsa nya sendiri atas idealogi mereka yang korup untuk menjaga kepentingan mereka. Apabila mereka akan bersara tapi diguna pakai untuk kononnya menegakkan keadilan.Heran saya kerana undang undang itu tidak pula sentiasa adil kerana bila berlaku pada kroni kroni mereka di tutup sebelah mata.Contoh baru baru ini sebuah syarikat bumiputera di paksa untuk terus berhenti dari berniaga atas alasan tidak berhemah kerana gagal melaporkan proses undang undang yang sedang di hadapi oleh syarikat lain yang tidak ada kena mengena dengan mereka. Dan belum tahu pun siapa di pihak benar atau salah kerana kes pun belum bermula tapi seorg kakitangan awam yang berkedudukan yang cukup tinggi tiba tiba melenting dan beriya iya hendak menamatkan perniagaan anak bangsa nya sendiri yang mempunyai 1000 % MELAYU untuk diberikan kepada si ALI BABA ini yang kuasa dalam syarikat pun kita ragui. Tetapi sebuah syarikat cina maafkan saya kerana "racist sikit" di tangkap dengan jelas senang cakap red handed lah oleh sebuah agensi penguatkuasaan
kerana menyalah gunakan minyak subsidi tapi di lepaskan alasan bukan bidang kuasa mereka.Kami pun terpinga pinga mencari jawapan kepada semua ini syarikat melayu tulen di panggil untuk di tamatkan perniagaan sebab nya masih samar samar tapi syarikat cina maaf racist lagi.di lepas kan walaupun dengan jelas dan ada bukti mencuri minyak subsidi dilepaskan dengan alasan bukan bidang kuasa mereka.Dan lesen mereka tak di tarik balik pun dan bermaharajalela dgn dengan sombong dan bongkak mengatakan yang lesen kamu (kami) akan ditarik balik tak lama lagi. Pelik tokeh tokeh cina lebih tahu bila syarikat bumiputera akan di hukum daripada pegawai kerajaan yang lain lain. Semoga Allah tunjukkan dan pimpin lah org org seperti "mamat Mamat Kecil ini agar negara ini tidak menjadi negara bangsat pada masa akan datang. Salam SAKSI

oleh pegawai yang berstatus "Mamat kecil ini". Bukan itu saja kami hingga ke hari

art harun said...

Bro,

You missed out the obligatory plastic flowers adorning the huge wooden table in the meeting room. And, oh, somethime they serve you dried up and prolli frozen "karipap" with teh "o" panas too.

And of course, most time, when you were on your way to their office in God-forsaken Putrajaya, braving the morning jam, just when you were about to arrive - after 1 and a half hour of driving - you would receive a phone call on your mobile to inform you that the meeting is cancelled because...DATUK KENA JUMPER MENTERI HARI NI...!

Brilliant!