Cleaning House

• 15 August 2018
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It is impossible to deny that, with its recent electoral victory, PH is faced with a massive task of cleaning up, not just the public service, but many other aspects of Malaysian society. Sixty plus years of political monoculture allowed many abuses to flourish and that process was vastly accelerated under Najib when he came to power as Prime Minister.

Najib himself can be left to the Courts but his legions of corrupt supporters need also to be dealt with. No nation can stay safe if its public service, or any parts thereof, are tainted by corruption and disloyalty. Yet that is exactly where Malaysia, and PH, now find themselves.

Those who grew fat on the back of BN have no hope for the future except by way of a BN comeback of some kind, unlikely though such a thing appears to be at present. Nevertheless the danger persists and can only be negated by diligent and comprehensive enquiry and action where justified.

As most of the public service is under the control of the various Service Commissions a start can be made by weeding out those members whose compliance allowed Najib and BN to manipulate the civil service at will. And replacing them by persons of unquestionable probity and experience. That done each Commission should begin a profound probe into the suitability and reliability of members of the service for which they are responsible. A major task which will require energy and hard work in addition to honesty and reliability. Nevertheless it has to be done. And as rapidly as possible so that government can function efficiently as it is supposed to do.

None of this will be easy but it is a necessary and vital step to restoring public confidence in the machinery of government. The new Cabinet can take the lead and the role of Royal Commissions of Enquiry should not be overlooked.

The task will not be popular in certain circles but it is evidently necessary if the public are once more to view the public service as servants rather than oppressors.