I refer to the letter Civil service should forget pay rise for now . Someone or a team of consultants in Malaysia whom have access to surveyed statistical information should determine how much the government has lost direct or indirect revenue due to civil servants' 'tidak apa' attitude in providing services to the public

These include taking advantage of bosses who are often out for meetings, incompetent front-desk staff unable to serve the multi-racial Malaysian communities and GLC companies whom have lost in millions of ringgit.

The list is limitless but the clear fact is that the citizens of Malaysia actually contributed to these losses. Unless and until Malaysians come to a clear realization, the civil servants will never able understand their obligations and responsibilities to the rakyat. The real 'loss' isn't the civil servants' financial burden because as long as they receive what they conceive to be the appropriate salary structure for them, they will continue to perform with the least dedication and pride of their career. There is no motivation for them to perform more than required.

Financial motivation is one of the main tools to maintain a reasonable standard of governance. With a GDP growth of five percent a year since independence, there is an adequate budget to allocate for and revamp the civil service salary scheme. Why allocate for elaborate multi-billion ringgit public mega-projects when politicians and administrators know that we have a third class delivery system?

This is akin to going to war when you only have generals but no soldiers. Many of the mega-projects have failed and their allocations could have been better allocated for a pay-rise or a revamp of the public service system.

I am of the opinion that the civil servants should be given a handsome increase in salary as an inducement for them to perform. Failure to perform will also result in penalties like being sacked from the service. They will soon come to realise that they have to perform or their days with the civil service will be numbered.