The ratio of civil service staff in Malaysia to the general population when compared to Asean countries is easily more than twice according to recent statistics released.

But the low productivity of the Malaysian civil service in general is obvious for everyone to see except for some rare improvements in some departments such as the Immigration Department's passport issuing office. This is partly because of the computerisation of the process.

I am in favour of having the civil service reduces its staff level by half, and this by retrenching all the deadwood. These deadwood are very evident in many government departments where many of them are to be found chit-chatting most of the time, doing their own things during office hours, lazing away in the canteens after clocking in or attending perpetual training courses and seminars.

For the public, approvals for simple matters take ages up to six months or more while in other countries, two weeks is adequate. This really wears out the patience of the private sector.

Only when they are small and lean, will I support a 40 percent increase in the salary of civil servants. Otherwise, the whole country will not be as competitive as our Asean neighbours.