With reference to the present furore surrounding the controversial wedding reception organised by the Fire and Rescue Department director-general for his son, may I add that, to be fair to him, he is not alone in using government property for personal use.

It is a well-known fact that senior government officers would want to marry off all their children while they are still in office. It is quite normal for the staff to have committees that are assigned different tasks. No one would raise an eyebrow if departmental vehicles are used, especially in the army, police or the other services within the government.

It would be quite difficult to expect any action to be taken, i.e. to expect the departmental heads to take action against their staff, as they are just as guilty. There have even been cases where official helicopters are used to fly over land that so-and-so wants to purchase for his family. What can the poor pilot do to refuse such an instruction?

And if we expect the 'bigger bosses' other than the government officer i.e. the politicians, to take any action, you can forget it, because it is also a well-known fact that politicians also use government facilities for their personal and political use.

Actually, the rot had set in years ago, and the rot is continuing still as it does not seem to hurt anyone.

Ever wonder what some departments do with their four-wheel-drive vehicles? To visit remote areas? Wrong! It is for the weekend jaunts back to the kampong (can carry heavy loads, you know) or to the dusun (orchards), which are scattered around KL, in places like Langat and Kuang.

Wedding functions held in hotels often come with generous discounts for government officials. Some discounts are unbelievably 'generous', but who is going to say anything? It is really the hotel's prerogative as to how much profit (or loss, in certain cases) it wants to make.

I really see no way this problem can be erased as it is so deeply embedded in the fibre of the civil service. It is even assumed as 'perks' that come with the job.

From the looks of the investigation into the Fire Services case, the one who is now being investigated seems to be the one who reported the incident. Malaysia Boleh! it is.