LETTER | Reading A Kadir Jasin’s piece “Masih banyak subahat kleptokrasi pegang jawatan penting”, which was published on Aug 5, reminded me of Abba’s song, “Take a chance on me, gonna do my very best and it ain't no lie, if you put me to the test, if you let me try...”

Granted, much has been said about our public service following the prime minister’s famous “heads must roll” statement. It pains me to read, digest and reflect on these criticisms.

Public service remains an elusive entity to many, perceived as inefficient and bloated in the past, to corrupt and untrustworthy at present. Malaysia has a complex and intricate public service at the federal, state and local council levels.

Public service, through its very wide presence, functions and reach, has opened doors for Malaysia and Malaysians to benefit through political goodwill, economic collaborations, strategic linkages, friendly relations and mutual cooperation at home and abroad.

The public service has been steadfast in developing talents, building infrastructure, and improving work processes. Technology adoption was utilised to support pro-growth policies by easing business licences, import and export procedures and corporate taxes. These ongoing efforts have gradually transformed the way of doing business by bringing down barriers and silos that are known to be the hallmark of bureaucracy.

Along the way, it was unfortunate that some digressed from the oath taken and forged a road less travelled for reasons best known to them. Its pathological manifestation was further validated when the costly consequences of decisions made by a few were unearthed recently.

This misgiving serves only to erode the remnants of trust that has long stacked against civil servants. Navigating these intricacies will be met with frustration, resistance and angst. It is an inconvenient truth, but one that needs to be confronted and dealt with so we can resolve these issues once and for all.

Having said that, I am incredibly optimistic about what the future holds. There is no grand strategy and easy way to do this, and to some extent, central planning just won’t work. Opportunities avail to rejuvenate and strengthen our public institutions.

The challenging part

The easy part is identifying what we need: strong advocates, networks, collaboration, better linkages, good leadership and strong teamwork. The challenging part: who will be driving these changes? I’d say that it doesn’t necessarily have to be charismatic individuals with strong words. Instead, take a chance on the civil servants, let them prove their mettle and bare their souls for all to see what it takes to rebuild Malaysia, shoulder-to-shoulder.

There is another thing that we must understand about civil servants. We don’t mind working hard to make life better for our families, the marginalised, minorities and the disadvantaged groups in the society. We are happy to contribute for services like healthcare, education, defence and security. But it isn’t fair for us to carry the burden for others who are not pulling their weight. The greedy and reckless few must accept responsibility for their actions.

Malaysia’s public service has been the rock and steady hands that calm the storms throughout Malaysia’s evolution since 1957. We stand proudly on the shoulders of the esteemed men and women before us who have served Malaysia valiantly to earn our Asian tiger credibility.

Events unfolding post-May 9, 2018, are the impetus to convene the first of many conversations about public service so we could genuinely reform and make it better for all. We must close ranks, tip the balance towards Malaysians who are doing the hard work and manage Malaysia for all Malaysians, not just for the privileged elite. And the one place that the government must show leadership is public service. Only then can we deliver for the many, not just the few.

I started this piece hymning to Abba, and I will end by singing lines from John Hiatt’s, “And when the tears you cry are all you can believe, just give these loving arms a try and have a little faith in me.”

I trust the civil servants’ loving arms are strong enough to elevate Malaysia to greater heights. Let’s bend the arc of this country’s future imbued with faith and hope. Take a chance and have faith.