Members of the civil service should uphold the principle of undivided loyalty to the country, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and the ruling government, said the chief secretary to the government, Ismail Bakar.

He said civil servants shouldered a heavy responsibility in ensuring that all government transactions were guided by the rule of law and trust and that the responsibility was discharged with full loyalty.

“In whatever task carried out, it is important that they are implemented with full loyalty, trust and integrity and never to place self-interest or that of other people above national interest.

“Ensure that all government business is carried out based on the principle of power separation and this means that all action or decisions made should be guided by the regulations drawn up,” he said at the ceremony to present the Postgraduate Public Administration Diplomas (DPA) and Intan Fellows, in Kuala Lumpur today.

Ismail said Administrative and Diplomatic Service (PTD) officers were tasked with the challenge to prove to the world that Malaysia could return to become the ‘Asian Tiger’ as stipulated by Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

”All civil servants and the PTD, in particular, should work harder to improve Malaysia's position in order to increase the inflow of direct foreign investment which would subsequently boost national economic growth,” he said.

Mahathir was earlier reported to have said Malaysia could become the Asian Tiger again with the response from foreign investors who had shown keenness to invest in the country.

A total of 395 graduands were awarded the Postgraduate Public Administration Diplomas organised by the National Institute of Public Administration (Intan) Public Service Department.

The chairperson of the Public Service Commission (PSC) for the period of 2015-2018, and the first woman secretary-general at the Ministry of Housing and Local Government, Arpah Abdul Razak were the recipients of the Intan Fellows for this session.

— Bernama