Improved civil service

The STAR, 12 December 2006

I CONCUR with Cuepacs president Omar Osman that the performance of civil servants has improved, it has yet to reach high standards, but at least we're getting there.

A few of my friends have complimented the fact that getting a passport and applying for a MyKad has been hassle-free and the horror stories which they have heard of being made to wait for long hours before being served, shoddy work and bad attitude of the civil servants has been unfounded.

The civil service should really give itself a pat on the back for this remarkable improvement, which I think should be attributed to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's efforts to improve the civil service.

Besides the reasons given by Omar Osman, I would also like to offer a couple of my own reasons why the civil service ought to be given their 40% raise.

The civil servants deserve the raise because:
1) It will be a form of acknowledgement from the Government of the civil servants' years of hard work and tireless contribution to the country, not to mention that it will give their morale a great boost, spur them to put in more efforts in their work and strive for excellence.
2) The 40% increase in salary will be a great corruption and bribery deterrent – there's less reason for them to accept bribes.
3) It will encourage more people to get into the civil service now that the civil servants are getting the recognition and acknowledgment that they deserve.
4) The salary increase is definitely good for the country in the long run as it will contribute to the country's economic growth.

Almost 15 years have passed since the civil servants received their last raise.

I hope the Prime Minister will do the right thing and consider giving the civil servants their well-deserved pay rise.

PHILIPP C.K. GAN, Petaling Jaya.