Artikel dari link:
http://www.mmail.com.my/story/justice-exemplary-civil-servant-43014
Justice for exemplary civil servant
Monday, January 07, 2013 - 17:29
ABOUT three years ago, the parents of a young Air Force cadet approached me for help. Their son, we shall call him Raja, was top of his class and was selected by the Australian Air Force to undergo a three-year programme Down Under. He was the only Malaysian selected for the prestigious training but was denied the opportunity by his superiors. “Budget exhausted” was their feeble excuse.
To add insult to injury, this shock came a week after they had informed him of his selection and after he had made all arrangements including booking his flight to Sydney.
According to a long-standing deal between the Australian and Malaysian defence ministries, all expenses will be paid for by our Air Force. The entire programme cost just under RM500,000. Several of Raja’s seniors had qualified for the programme and graduated to top positions in the Air Force, Defence Ministry and other ambits of the government service.
I felt sorry for Raja. Here was a bright kid who made it this far on merit, and now he was going to be screwed out of an opportunity of a lifetime.
I contacted then chief secretary to the government (and now Petronas chairman) Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hasan who in turn referred me to Datuk Seri Abu Bakar Abdullah, the then secretary-general of the Defence Ministry.
“We will make this right,” Abu Bakar said.
“Tell the boy’s family not to worry.”
To be honest, I was not sure if Abu Bakar could pull it off as the programme was due to commence in a matter of days. However, the following day, we received good news.
His superiors hauled him up, told him he was cleared to go — but not before grilling him if he knew anyone in the media, and admonishing him for not displaying esprit de corps.
Today Raja is back and serving the nation in his own way.
I called both Mohd Sidek and Abu Bakar to thank them for their intervention which probably changed the course of a young man’s life.
I then put on my journalistic cap and asked Abu Bakar how come funds allocated for a particular purpose was exhausted? What was it used for? Who finished it? And under whose instructions?
“The funds are there. It has always been there. Just tell the boy’s family that their son will be going to Australia,” he said.
So I concluded that it was Raja’s bad luck that he was a pawn in a show of power by someone who for reasons best known to him, did not want him to attend the course.
To add insult to injury, this shock came a week after they had informed him of his selection and after he had made all arrangements including booking his flight to Sydney.
According to a long-standing deal between the Australian and Malaysian defence ministries, all expenses will be paid for by our Air Force. The entire programme cost just under RM500,000. Several of Raja’s seniors had qualified for the programme and graduated to top positions in the Air Force, Defence Ministry and other ambits of the government service.
I felt sorry for Raja. Here was a bright kid who made it this far on merit, and now he was going to be screwed out of an opportunity of a lifetime.
I contacted then chief secretary to the government (and now Petronas chairman) Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hasan who in turn referred me to Datuk Seri Abu Bakar Abdullah, the then secretary-general of the Defence Ministry.
“We will make this right,” Abu Bakar said.
“Tell the boy’s family not to worry.”
To be honest, I was not sure if Abu Bakar could pull it off as the programme was due to commence in a matter of days. However, the following day, we received good news.
His superiors hauled him up, told him he was cleared to go — but not before grilling him if he knew anyone in the media, and admonishing him for not displaying esprit de corps.
Today Raja is back and serving the nation in his own way.
I called both Mohd Sidek and Abu Bakar to thank them for their intervention which probably changed the course of a young man’s life.
I then put on my journalistic cap and asked Abu Bakar how come funds allocated for a particular purpose was exhausted? What was it used for? Who finished it? And under whose instructions?
“The funds are there. It has always been there. Just tell the boy’s family that their son will be going to Australia,” he said.
So I concluded that it was Raja’s bad luck that he was a pawn in a show of power by someone who for reasons best known to him, did not want him to attend the course.
FIRST THINGS FIRST: Civil servants should always place components like fairness and justice on top of their list — BERNAMApic
So why am I bringing up this old story? Well for one, to illustrate that such things do happen — not only in the civil service but I’m sure in the private sector too. Next it is also to show that if you want things to move, it still matters that you know someone higher up the pecking order — and to also reflect that at times, the top needs to kick butt for the bottom to get moving!
But more importantly, to reveal that there are many decent folk like Abu Bakar in the civil service who place components like fairness and justice on top of their list.
No disrespect to Datuk Seri Ali Hamsa, who despite the bumps in the road, is on his way to become a good and effective chief secretary to the government — but it is common knowledge that Abu Bakar was being groomed for that job. After all he was promoted to Public Services Department director-general on July 1, 2010 to succeed Mohd Sidek.
However, the controversial Public Service Renumeration Scheme (SBPA) put paid to those plans. He was given his marching orders on June 30 last year, after 35 years of serving the nation.
In his own words, he said that on Jan 1 last year, it was decided that he would serve until the age of 60 (another three years).
The implementation of the SBPA would have seen a huge disparity between senior and lower ranking government servants with the likes of the chief secretary earning RM60,000 a month and clerks getting an increment of RM1.70.
Of course, Abu Bakar’s critics say he has most to gain as he was the chief secretary in waiting when the SBPA was proposed.
However, if this was the case, then the cabinet should be telling us this. Until today there has been no explanation as to why Abu Bakar was terminated under Order 49 of the public servants conduct and discipline regulations.
What exactly did he commit to receive such harsh punishment? And why until today, Abu Bakar’s deputy Datuk Farida Mohd Ali is still in an acting capacity.
The SBPA was something that was deliberated under (former prime minister) Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s administration, so why is it that Abu Bakar has to take the rap for the outrage by Cuepacs and the general public service?
Many quarters have alluded to the fact that Abu Bakar is being made a pawn to cover up a boo boo that the entire cabinet should be reprimanded for. After all, any remuneration scheme must be endorsed by those who attend the weekly cabinet meetings!
Six months down the road and we are still asking why. The senior civil servants I had met over the weekend (who inspired me to dust this issue and re-ignite the debate) are also wondering why their boss was “victimised”.
It is understood that Abu Bakar is taking legal recourse and judging on the facts before us, he could be taking his former bosses to the cleaners. Perhaps before taxpayers have to again pay for someone else’s folly, some answers could be forthcoming
But more importantly, to reveal that there are many decent folk like Abu Bakar in the civil service who place components like fairness and justice on top of their list.
No disrespect to Datuk Seri Ali Hamsa, who despite the bumps in the road, is on his way to become a good and effective chief secretary to the government — but it is common knowledge that Abu Bakar was being groomed for that job. After all he was promoted to Public Services Department director-general on July 1, 2010 to succeed Mohd Sidek.
However, the controversial Public Service Renumeration Scheme (SBPA) put paid to those plans. He was given his marching orders on June 30 last year, after 35 years of serving the nation.
In his own words, he said that on Jan 1 last year, it was decided that he would serve until the age of 60 (another three years).
The implementation of the SBPA would have seen a huge disparity between senior and lower ranking government servants with the likes of the chief secretary earning RM60,000 a month and clerks getting an increment of RM1.70.
Of course, Abu Bakar’s critics say he has most to gain as he was the chief secretary in waiting when the SBPA was proposed.
However, if this was the case, then the cabinet should be telling us this. Until today there has been no explanation as to why Abu Bakar was terminated under Order 49 of the public servants conduct and discipline regulations.
What exactly did he commit to receive such harsh punishment? And why until today, Abu Bakar’s deputy Datuk Farida Mohd Ali is still in an acting capacity.
The SBPA was something that was deliberated under (former prime minister) Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s administration, so why is it that Abu Bakar has to take the rap for the outrage by Cuepacs and the general public service?
Many quarters have alluded to the fact that Abu Bakar is being made a pawn to cover up a boo boo that the entire cabinet should be reprimanded for. After all, any remuneration scheme must be endorsed by those who attend the weekly cabinet meetings!
Six months down the road and we are still asking why. The senior civil servants I had met over the weekend (who inspired me to dust this issue and re-ignite the debate) are also wondering why their boss was “victimised”.
It is understood that Abu Bakar is taking legal recourse and judging on the facts before us, he could be taking his former bosses to the cleaners. Perhaps before taxpayers have to again pay for someone else’s folly, some answers could be forthcoming
____________________________________________________________________________
Komen kita:
Semua orang nampak Sidik Hasan yang patut bertanggungjawab dalam SBPA. Kenapa orang lain pula dikambing hitam? Kata Kerajaan yang mendengar denyut nadi rakyat. Tapi nampak macam dengar denyut nadi Sidik Hasan yang salah buat keputusan
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.