INTERVIEW The relationship between state governments and top civil servants in states headed by Pakatan Rakyat over the last three years can be described as 'tolerable' at best.

The dark side of this was seen in Perak, where the state secretary was said to have had a hand in stoking the political crisis created by the departure of three lawmakers from Pakatan Rakyat.

More recently, Selangor saw a drawn-out conflict involving the incoming state secretary Mohammed Khusrin Munawi.

Depending on who you talk to and whatever the position taken, it is clear that Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim was not consulted about the appointment two months ago.

"Oh yes, I was very annoyed, but I shouldn’t scratch my head in public... this would have been unacceptable in Europe, Australia or the US," he said, comparing intellectual development in these countries to that in Malaysia.

But whether or not Khalid’s reaction to the appointment - which the state BN deemed to be treacherous - is justified, the former corporate personality is still bemused by the way the process panned out.

"This is 101 in management. For the Public Service Department not to understand that this is essential and a pre-requisite for a successful management team - and to ignore the leader by selecting people without consultation - this is not appreciating (what) management (involves).

NONE "For example, if a coach of a football team is not part of selecting players, how on earth can the coach make a strong and competitive team? That’s basic.”

Khalid is more accommodating of Khusrin, saying that the latter has been "putting in effort" after taking his oath of secrecy last month.

"Oh, he is still new. But like all dedicated civil servants, he is making an effort to improve himself and I’ve stated my piece on how he should conduct himself,” said Khalid.

“Oh yes, our relationship is getting better... (for example, in coming up with) our three-year plan, we had a lot of cooperation (from) civil servants. The policy (takes) a bottom-up approach.”

Providing a sneak-peek of the plan to be unveiled on March 25 - dubbed the Selangor Citizens' Agenda (Arus) - Khalid said this involves local council elections.

Following in Penang’s footsteps, Selangor is forging ahead - without legal approval - in conducting a pilot project for local council elections in Subang Jaya and Petaling Jaya.

"We must accept the fact that local council elections will not be recognised by the Housing and Local Government Ministry and the Election Commission," he said.

"(But) we still have to try. The demand by the public is overwhelming and we have to take it positively."

Ronnie Liu to keep post

Even as Khalid tries to sort out matters concerning local government, the irony is that certain personalities in the Selangor Pakatan fold have been calling for the removal of a key figure in charge of this portfolio in the state exco.

The DAP’s Ronnie Liu, who heads the local government research and development portfolio, has been fending off calls for his removal from as early as two years ago.

However, Khalid has been more forgiving. Having given an assurance that there will be no reshuffle in the Selangor exco, he explained that he has learnt to accept personality-based “differences”.

"I must accept that there are different styles and each person has different capabilities, but we should harness their strengths and (shore up) their weaknesses," he said.

Using another football analogy (he is full of these) to explain that a reshuffle is not always the best way, he said that he cannot expect a full back to score goals.

“We must always go through an evaluation. Good managers must accept that excellence is a process, not an end.

“In fact, some football players fight among themselves and that’s the reality. But the team has a responsibility to win, and winning is all that matters. We have a limit to (substituting) players and we can’t just change them like Manchester United or Chelsea.”

Tomorrow: 'I know my weaknesses'

Part I: S'gor MB wants end to 'major irritation'