I refer to the malaysiakini report Up to 35% pay hike for civil servants .

I am very sad to observe that there are some people out there judging the whole civil service based on a minority of ineffective people. This happens throughout the world and even in industrialised nations. I do not wish to point fingers but did you see any effectiveness in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in the US?

Statistically, the civil service is made up a minority of excellent workers, a minority of non- performers and the majority of in-between people. This is the same for the private sector and, might I say, even for international companies.

Those that do not agree with the civil service pay rise may, in my opinion, have had one too many bad experiences with the civil service. I sympathise but we all have to look at it in a larger perspective. There are many examples within the service that make Hallmark heart-warming stories about people from all levels working for the country.

I have sat down and talked to cleaning ladies, smoked with drivers, heard the life stories of clerks, etc. From these people's viewpoint, they work for the government, for the people, for you and for me. They do not work for politicians, as one writer puts it.

We do have effective politicians who do not have permanent newspaper space, dedicated nurses and doctors who save our family members' lives, smiling counter staff who make your day a whole lot better, army personnel who get shot at to let us sleeping soundly at night, policemen who keep drugs away from our kids, etc.

We also have the quiet man in the corner who has donated blood every month for the past 24 years, saving hundreds of people but he does not get praises in the media.

Our 10 fingers are made pointing outwards and maybe that makes us point fingers at others easily. Very rarely do we point to ourselves. Like wise men from other galaxies say, we have to be mindful of our thoughts, our words and our actions. Look at ourselves before we judge others to harshly.

Yes, we do not have the best civil service (who does?). Yes, we do not have the best politicians (which country does?). Yes, we do have corrupt officials (who doesn't?).

But do we have to punish those that deserve the pay rise because of a minority of 'bad durians'? Come on, we all know that the majority clearly deserve it.