Do all of the one million over civil servants deserve a pay rise? It may be that only approximately 10 percent of them do. Not the remaining 90 which make the public's life difficult by imposing unnecessary restrictions and red tape for obtaining licences, permits and approvals. Let's not forget the corruption and other deficiencies including poor work ethics.

In the private sector (excluding multinational companies), employees are taught to prepare their own drinks at work during tea breaks. And they only observe a one-hour lunch break. If we were to call government departments at say, between 8.15am and 9.15am, the response would mjore often than not be 'Dia keluar minum, you panggil balik'. I would suggest that canteens for government departments only operate during lunch time.

On Fridays, Muslim workers in the private sector who go for their prayers have to squeeze this in during their lunch break. Government servant go for their prayers from 12pm to 2.45pm but public can only get them at 3pm.

The normal period for maternity leave is 60 days, but civil servants now want 90 days with seven days leave for the husband.

Forgetting the foregoing, the end of the year demand for a bonus in private sector is given based on performance and profit. They'll get it only if they deserve it. After all the discussion on the deficiencies of our civil service and the need for urgent improvement, they are now asking for pay rise. That's worth pondering.