DAP 'plan' to erode Malay dominance is nonsense
Published: Nov 7, 2011 10:59 AM | Updated: Nov 7, 2011 11:55 AM
Fears raised by Utusan Malaysia that DAP will reduce the size of the civil service dominated by Malays is unfounded because their position is legally protected, says constitutional law expert Abdul Aziz Bari.
Fears raised by Utusan Malaysia that DAP will reduce the size of the civil service dominated by Malays is unfounded because their position is legally protected, says constitutional law expert Abdul Aziz Bari.
"In any case, the position of members of the public service is well protected under the constitution. So the fear spun by Utusan is sheer nonsense.
"Members of the public service cannot be dismissed summarily. So is their promotion and so on," Aziz said in a statement today.
He was referring to a front page report in the Umno-owned daily today, quoting Kulim-Bandar Bharu MP Zulkifli Nordin citing a reported DAP plan as evidence it wanted to reduce Malay dominance in the field.
"Their ambition (to reduce the size of the civil service) has a hidden agenda and is not simply to reduce government spending as claimed," Zulkifli is quoted as saying.
The daily also quoted Senator Mohd Ezam Noor accusing the DAP of racism and inciting hatred against the Malays.
On Sunday, Utusan Malaysia's anonymous columnist 'Awang Selamat' launched a broadside against the DAP, describing its PJ Utara MP Tony Pua's comment on this as yet another provocation from the party.
The column was in response to Pua's statement in a Chinese daily that the party would discontinue the service of inefficient public servants and reduce the size of the public service if the opposition coalition comes into power.
‘Form a royal commission'
Aziz concurred that the issues raised by Pua on public service were real, but urged caution on the issue.
"He has made some good points but he must remember that the huge majority of the 1.3 million-strong public service are Malays. About 150,000 are armed forces personnel and another 100,000 are in the police force."
Instead, Aziz said, if Pakatan Rakyat does comes into power, it should form a royal commission to evaluate the position of the public service and recommend the necessary measures that would strengthen it.
This, he said, could address several problems in the public service, such as that neutrality has been compromised, especially during the tenure of former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
"These include the oath of allegiance or Akujanji, or the practice of giving service contracts to the top brass that have eroded the morale of the service. Politicking has eaten the ethos of the service."
He added that under the constitution, public servants must be neutral in serving the government of the day and their allegiance is only to the country, which is symbolised by the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong.
"This is why, to me, the Akujanji is unconstitutional," Aziz explained.
"In any case, the position of members of the public service is well protected under the constitution. So the fear spun by Utusan is sheer nonsense.
"Members of the public service cannot be dismissed summarily. So is their promotion and so on," Aziz said in a statement today.He was referring to a front page report in the Umno-owned daily today, quoting Kulim-Bandar Bharu MP Zulkifli Nordin citing a reported DAP plan as evidence it wanted to reduce Malay dominance in the field.
"Their ambition (to reduce the size of the civil service) has a hidden agenda and is not simply to reduce government spending as claimed," Zulkifli is quoted as saying.
The daily also quoted Senator Mohd Ezam Noor accusing the DAP of racism and inciting hatred against the Malays.
On Sunday, Utusan Malaysia's anonymous columnist 'Awang Selamat' launched a broadside against the DAP, describing its PJ Utara MP Tony Pua's comment on this as yet another provocation from the party.
The column was in response to Pua's statement in a Chinese daily that the party would discontinue the service of inefficient public servants and reduce the size of the public service if the opposition coalition comes into power.
‘Form a royal commission'
Aziz concurred that the issues raised by Pua on public service were real, but urged caution on the issue.
"He has made some good points but he must remember that the huge majority of the 1.3 million-strong public service are Malays. About 150,000 are armed forces personnel and another 100,000 are in the police force."
Instead, Aziz said, if Pakatan Rakyat does comes into power, it should form a royal commission to evaluate the position of the public service and recommend the necessary measures that would strengthen it.
This, he said, could address several problems in the public service, such as that neutrality has been compromised, especially during the tenure of former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
"These include the oath of allegiance or Akujanji, or the practice of giving service contracts to the top brass that have eroded the morale of the service. Politicking has eaten the ethos of the service."
He added that under the constitution, public servants must be neutral in serving the government of the day and their allegiance is only to the country, which is symbolised by the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong.
"This is why, to me, the Akujanji is unconstitutional," Aziz explained.
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