The term ‘Little Napoleons’ is just a general term referring to civil officers who hinder the government’s delivery system, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz.

“It is not an offence”, said Mohd Nazri responding to Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng’s (DAP-Bagan) question today on what action has been taken on those 'Little Napoleons' mentioned by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak in one of his past speeches.

azlan “If officials are found to be lacking in achievement, being less responsible and trying and demonstrating attitude and values that could be termed as Little Napoleons, then the government will not hesitate to take appropriate action on the officer,” said Mohd Nazri.

He added that action either “preventive or punitive” could be taken under the Public Officers (Conduct and Discipline) Regulations 1993, when winding up the Budget 2011 debate today.

 

Instead Mohd Nazri,  who is also the Padang Rengas MP, promised to to supply the Dewan Rakyat with a list of errant civil servants who had flaunted the Public Officers (Conduct and Discipline) Regulations 1993.

However, opposition stalwart Lim Kit Siang (DAP-Ipoh Timur) continued to press on Najib’s hints of “Little Napoleons” in the civil service.

“The prime minister has said that there exists a problem of Little Napoleons in the civil service, can you give a figure on the number of actions taken on them?” asked Lim.

The minister then repeated that it is just a term used for people who make go “beyond their powers to act on something” but it is not an offence unless it has contravened the code of conduct.

‘I won’t run away’

Despite the explanation, Lim demanded a list of “Little Napoleons” and criticised that the government’s unresponsiveness gives the perception that the civil service is deteriorating.

The opposition bench was also in a huff today as Mohd Nazri, who is charge of Law and Parliament, chose to elaborately wind up on Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) matters instead of the usual popular matters such as the judiciary and corruption related concerns.

lim kit siang dap logo flag Lim, who was particular offended, said on micro-blogging site Twitter :

“Walked out of Dewan in protest when (Mohd) Nazri ends after two hour answer without answering corruption issues like (the) worst TI (Transparency International rating) CPI (corruption perception index) or Najib’s Umno speech”.

Met by reporters later, Mohd Nazri said Lim can take the matter up again during the committee stage of the debate and also promised to provide written answers to the other questions raised at the initial stage of the debate.

“I won’t run away. I’m not Ong Tee Keat,” he said, referring to the former transport minister’s poor attendance during the last Dewan Rakyat sitting.