SEREMBAN: The large size of the civil service in this country is in accordance with what is stipulated by the Federal Constitution.
Chief Secretary to the Government, Tan Sri Dr Ali Hamsa said the definition of civil servants include members of security forces such as the police, military and medical personnel.
“They (The Edge Market) referred to the size of the civil service in this country (which) is 1.6 million. We have the definition set out in our constitution. Teachers, soldiers, policemen are included but other countries do not include police and military personnel in the civil service.
“For example, in United Kingdom (UK), health services are not included (in civil service). The prime minister (Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak) has requested Public Service Department director-general (Datuk Seri Zainal Rahim Seman) to issue a statement on this matter in order to compare ‘apple with apple’,” he told reporters here, yesterday. — Bernama