10th June 2018
MINISTRY STAFFS SHOULD NOT BE TOLD TO ATTEND POLITICAL EVENT OF ITS MINISTER
Agriculture Minister Salahuddin Ayob, on 7 Jun, was reported to instruct his ministry staffs not to attend any of his political event, implying also not to use assets belonging to the ministry. Patriot applauds the decision of the Agriculture Minister as it reflects his understanding and knowledge of his dual role, i.e. as a minister on the one hand, and as a politician on the other. Salahuddin’s statement can be regarded as a hallmark of a true politician, one that does not take advantage of his ministerial position to project oneself as a caring and a worthy politician.
We urge the new government to take the cue from Salahuddin’s statement and to adopt it as a policy for all ministers/deputy ministers. We believe that such a policy will stop the rampant abuses that were so prevalent in the past, thus saving ministry staffs from performing functions that are outside the scope of their departmental responsibilities.
Likewise, head of departments must also issue specific instructions to the staffs by defining what constitutes a political task and what isn’t. We have seen in the past where head of departments would issue instructions to subordinate staffs to attend political events of ministers, simply to ensure large crowds at the events.
Patriot would also like to commend the action taken by the new government to have a serious relook into the salaries and allowances of political appointees holding positions in GLCs. It does not make any sense for a CEO of a GLC to receive a salary of RM100K per month and equate it to private corporations. There has to be some reasonable basis to the amount that a CEO, Chairman or board members of GLC be paid their allowances or salaries. The same goes for senior public servants that are appointed to hold positions in the board of GLCs, and to limit the number of positions that they can hold.
BG Dato Mohamed Arshad Raji (Rtd)
President, Persatuan Patriot Kebangsaan
(PPM-005-14-22052017)
www.patriotkebangsaan.org.my
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