The prime minister's national agenda of instilling good values among Malaysians - namely through the 'budi bahasa' and 'nilai-nilai murni' (courtesy and noble values ) should first focus on the civil servants.

They are the front-liners representing the face of the government and should therefore set an example to the rakyat. But at the moment, the face of the government is an ugly one. They are a lazy, spoilt, rude and a very unprofessional lot.

They don't take pride in their work and some expect to be bribed. The government's policy of not having a cross-section of the Malaysian population reflected in the civil service has contributed to this present malady.

During working hours you will see them talking and chatting about their domestic problems and later vanishing to do shopping and other chores.

For the prime minister's agenda to be successful, good values must first be inculculated in these civil servants. If civil servants do not display these qualities, then don't expect the common rakyat to follow suit.