‘Higher unemployment, more social ills if number of civil servants cut’

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KUCHING: Reducing the number of civil servants as proposed by DAP is only going to increase the rate of unemployment and social problems, said Malaysian Parents Consultative Association (Mapim) Sarawak president Wan Zain Syed Mohdzar.

“Generally, parents send their children to complete their higher education, and at the least expect them to be employed in civil service. The current scheme of employment whereby civil servants are to retire at the age of 60 had made job opportunities in the civil service to become less and less (leading to applicants staying jobless and involved in social problems),” he said yesterday.

In a report published recently, DAP publicity secretary and Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua said that the first step the opposition would take in reducing national expenditure was to cut down the number of civil servants. The proposal has thus far drawn criticisms, mainly from BN leaders.

Wan Zain personally opined that to reduce federal expenditure, the government of the day should consider improving its delivery system.

“Corrupt and undedicated officers should be terminated from their respective services. Similar penalty should also be made on officers who abuse their authority and office for their personal gain. These are the root cause that badly affects the standard of delivery and the quality of services as expected by the rakyat,” he said.

He pointed out that ‘makan gaji buta’ (underperforming) civil servants should be replaced by more dedicated and proactive officers.

“While the government maintains the number and replace the problematic staff with good ones, its services would be improved accordingly.” he stated.