Buku Media JPA 2020

THE civil service has now become the object of ridicule and odium by fault-finding critics, politicians looking for political mileage and others with malicious intent. These groups malign the civil service by giving the impression that it is rotten to the core, condemning it for the actions of a few. They accuse the civil service of being bloated, inefficient, corrupt and subservient to the political masters. The civil service, which comprises all government workers including security personnel, perform crucial functions in the administration of the nation and servicing the needs of the people. They facilitate in organising peoples’ lives with respect to housing, travel, sanitation, trade and commerce – in fact, most aspects of the people’s existence. We take for granted these services just because we pay taxes; and we expect civil servants to be at our behest. We tend to forget that they also pay taxes and generate economic activities through their purchases of necessities. Imagine what would happen if the government trimmed the civil service to half its present size based on the accusation that it is bloated with numerous redundant positions. It would have disastrous consequences, as many would lose their jobs and without an income, they would not be able to put food on the table, pay for shelter and see to the education of their children, among other things. This would in turn affect consumption, which would adversely affect companies’ productivity and profitability or even make them incur losses that would cause layoffs. This would have a snowball effect. It is the responsibility of the government to create jobs in both the public and private sectors by providing infrastructure and a conducive environment to generate employment. In fact, it creates employment opportunities through the civil service based not on profit considerations but moral and political obligations. Actually, the government generates economic spin-offs by employing civil servants. It could recoup some of its expenditure on the civil service through personal income and other taxes paid by civil servants. Civil servants are paid a pittance compared to private sector employees, yet they shoulder on. Except for a few who are recalcitrant, the rest are on average a dedicated lot. However, the current civil service inherited from the previous government needs an upgrade in efficiency and fortitude to work for the benefit of the people and not pander to the powers that be. We should not use the civil service as a punching bag to vent our frustration on or to further our agenda. We should have faith in the civil service and not undermine it because it serves crucial functions in the running of the country, irrespective of the idiosyncrasies of the government. MOHAMED GHOUSE NASURUDDIN Have respect for the civil service Ubah cara kerja, pastikan sektor awam kekal relevan Lazimnya rutin kerja sebagai kakitangan awam, seseorang itu akan ke pejabat awal pagi. Bekerja pula mengikut waktu pejabat ditetapkan dan kebanyakan masih menggunakan kaedah manual dalam menguruskan proses kerja seharian. Namun, COVID-19 mengubah itu semua setidak-tidaknya untuk tempoh Perintah Kawalan Pergerakan (PKP) ini. Usaha mengekang penyebaran COVID-19 memperlihatkan betapa pentingnya kakitangan awam di Malaysia. Ia bukan sahaja merangkumi kakitangan Kementerian Kesihatan yang bertungkus-lumus merawat pesakit di hospital, tetapi pihak Polis Diraja Malaysia (PDRM) dan Angkatan Tentera Malaysia. Tidak hairanlah kerajaan mengumumkan elaun khas untuk petugas barisan hadapan dari sektor kesihatan dan petugas lain yang terbabit secara langsung dalam melaksanakan PKP. Namun, kakitangan awam di Malaysia bukan sekadar bertugas di sektor kesihatan dan keselamatan, sebaliknya ramai lagi seperti di jabatan Kerajaan Persekutuan, negeri, kerajaan tempatan dan badan berkanun. Krisis COVID-19 memaksa pengurusan organisasi dalam semua sektor pada peringkat global termasuk sektor awam di Malaysia untuk membangun dan meningkatkan dasar serta prosedur membenarkan kakitangan bekerja dari rumah. Ia bukan baharu dalam mengurus sumber manusia, sebaliknya diamalkan dalam organisasi tertentu terutama di negara maju. Penulis sendiri pernah bekerja dari rumah sebagai perunding sumber manusia sambilan dengan sebuah agensi ketika belajar di Australia. Malah ketika ini pun, ada rakan strategik Pusat Inovasi dan Produktiviti Pentadbiran Awam (PIPPA) yang mana Ketua Pegawai Eksekutifnya hanya datang ke pejabatnya di London tiga hari dalam sebulan, manakala selebihnya bekerja dari rumahnya di Dundee, Scotland. Namun, bekerja dari rumah belum menjadi satu budaya diterima kebanyakan majikan di negara kita, apatah lagi sektor awam yang terkenal dengan pelbagai kerenah birokrasi untuk melaksanakan inisiatif seperti itu. Namun, wabak COVID-19 menyebabkan bekerja dari rumah terpaksa dilaksanakan untuk mengekang pergerakan dan mengawal penyebaran wabak. Sekarang kita tidak lagi janggal mengguna atau mendengar istilah bekerja dari rumah, mesyuarat atas talian, pembayaran dalam talian dan tandatangan digital. Dalam sektor pendidikan pula sering digunakan istilah seperti kelas maya, pembelajaran dan pengajaran atas talian serta peperiksaan atas talian yang menggunakan pelbagai aplikasi. Oleh Dr Musa Ali - April 9, 2020 7 February 2020 23