The number of civil servants being employed by the government of Malaysia form not only one of the biggest in the region in proportion to total national employment vis-a-vis population size but is also one in serious need of mindset reforming.

Although some may argue that a few rotten apples should not be a cause for alarm, it is equally important to take a humble yet serious note of the following realities:

The many times the public have voiced their dissatisfaction over their service quality.

The repeated calls by the previous and present prime ministers for them to shape up in attitude and performance.

The various negative feedback from foreign investors and company heads of their disappointment when dealing with civil servants.

The various findings in the auditor-general's reports over the years.

Civil servants need to know that they are 'public' servants. They need to be mindful of the fact that they are not lords but 'servants' of the rakyat. Such a mindset is crucial if we are to see any substantial change in the civil service.

Public servants must take cognisance of the fact that they are being paid from the pocket of the rakyat and not by any political party. Politicians need to be equally mindful of the fact that government and party are two different entities within the context of the public servants' service delivery machinery.

Perhaps it is time that a serious government puts in place effective strategies that can revamp the service quality, standards and efficiency of public servants. These include:

Ensuring that hiring and firing is the norm. For far too long, public servants have been living in their cocooned environment knowing that they cannot be fired so easily and that retirement is almost guaranteed the very day they join the service.

Remove the option of transfers for those who are found to be poor performers or have disciplinary problems.

Maintain a leaner force as it can prove to be more competitive and productive.

Keep politics, politicians and political parties divorced from the running and managing of the public service. Public service must not be seen to be a political party's machinery.

Remove all perks and special benefits and introduce more competitive salary scales on par with market norms and as adopted by the private sector.

Unless and until we are able to take these painful steps, public servants will not be able to achieve much towards improving the nation's economy. It is vital that they recognise that they can play an instrumental and developmental role as human capital.

Public servants are truly an investment and should not be a liability to nation-building.

Hopefully, the government of the day will stop all its perennial campaigns to seemingly boost productivity as all these have only punctured more holes in the money bag of the nation. It is time to pave the way for a major reform of mindsets.

Let the mantra of public service be: Shape up or ship out!