Tommy Thomas' critics give his book good publicity
by Mariam Mokhtar
by Mariam Mokhtar
The thing that can easily rile many Malays, especially civil servants, is their egos. It's huge. They don't take kindly to criticism. Some may claim that by extension, any criticism is also an attack on their race and religion.
I haven't yet purchased a copy of Tommy Thomas' book, "My Story: Justice in the Wilderness", but now, like most other people, I will buy a copy before it is banned or is out of circulation.
The comments by the felon, Najib Abdul Razak, his brother, Nazir, former director-general of the Judicial and Legal Training Institute (Ilkap) Mohamad Hanafiah Zakaria, former attorney-general Mohamed Apandi Ali, and current AG Idrus Harun about Thomas’ book, have aroused my curiosity.
They are upset with Thomas' personal opinions and have either filed lawsuits or lodged police reports. Nazir needs to read Britain's declassified reports on May 13, and civil servants should grow up and stop surrounding themselves with sycophants.
The Malays have lost their competitive edge. They collect praise, like former police chief Khalid Abu Bakar used to collect tweets and social media likes.
For many Malays, especially those serving in the government and the civil service, ego comes first. His race and religion share equal second place. His wife may be at number 10. His mother, probably number 7.
The ranking is probably different for Malay women. Vanity about their husband's pay-packet ranks highly, especially among the Mak Datins (Malay tai-tais). The pressure to look youthful is probably number 3 on their list.
Having been brought up to consider himself as a member of the master race, his views and outlook on life, including his self-worth are biased.
The Malay civil servant exhibits even more extreme feudal tendencies than an ordinary person. In the community, he serves those who are above him in the social ranking. The bowing and scraping are more intense if he has to address a datuk or royalty.
In his workplace, he shows deference to his superiors. The higher the rank, the more that person is worshipped like a deity. As a senior civil servant, he knows that his juniors look up to him and he is aware that, given half a chance, a few would stick their knives into his back. 'Maruah' matters and this explains why some are upset with Thomas' book.
The junior civil servant has a job for life. He clocks in, clocks out, does the minimal amount of work required and prostrates himself before the people who matter. In time, he will work his way up the greasy civil service pole, in a dog-eat-dog world. Just observe how little Napoleons treat members of the public who are poor and illiterate at government counters. It's not nice.
Rice bowl
I recently wrote about a person who had clearly been promoted well beyond his capability, but some former civil servants disagreed.
My argument was that there were other capable people who were not 'yes' men, who were better qualified and whose experience in various fields would be advantageous. Meritocracy should be the main criterion, and people who are willing to question their superiors, would make better candidates.
The retort I received was that the man who had been promoted was a relative of so-and-so and how dare I question the appointment, especially as the candidate played golf with the head honcho.
So, is that it? According to this former civil servant, golf is the deciding factor. Is this how ministers are appointed? What if potential candidates for important positions pretend to miss the ball, or fluff putts, and allow the head honcho to win and make him thinks he is the best golfer in Putrajaya?
If some former civil servants prioritise golf, then you know why this country is in a mess today. You then wonder about the calibre of the current civil servants.
Perhaps, in another 10 years, when Malaysia finally hits rock bottom, the current crop of civil servants who enter retirement will emerge to demand action and reform, and call themselves the G50 group.
When asked why they did not speak up before, the former civil servants will say, "At the time, I suffered from PNS."
For those who are unaware, PNS is Periuk Nasi Syndrome.
I haven't yet purchased a copy of Tommy Thomas' book, "My Story: Justice in the Wilderness", but now, like most other people, I will buy a copy before it is banned or is out of circulation.
The comments by the felon, Najib Abdul Razak, his brother, Nazir, former director-general of the Judicial and Legal Training Institute (Ilkap) Mohamad Hanafiah Zakaria, former attorney-general Mohamed Apandi Ali, and current AG Idrus Harun about Thomas’ book, have aroused my curiosity.
They are upset with Thomas' personal opinions and have either filed lawsuits or lodged police reports. Nazir needs to read Britain's declassified reports on May 13, and civil servants should grow up and stop surrounding themselves with sycophants.
The Malays have lost their competitive edge. They collect praise, like former police chief Khalid Abu Bakar used to collect tweets and social media likes.
For many Malays, especially those serving in the government and the civil service, ego comes first. His race and religion share equal second place. His wife may be at number 10. His mother, probably number 7.
The ranking is probably different for Malay women. Vanity about their husband's pay-packet ranks highly, especially among the Mak Datins (Malay tai-tais). The pressure to look youthful is probably number 3 on their list.
Having been brought up to consider himself as a member of the master race, his views and outlook on life, including his self-worth are biased.
The Malay civil servant exhibits even more extreme feudal tendencies than an ordinary person. In the community, he serves those who are above him in the social ranking. The bowing and scraping are more intense if he has to address a datuk or royalty.
In his workplace, he shows deference to his superiors. The higher the rank, the more that person is worshipped like a deity. As a senior civil servant, he knows that his juniors look up to him and he is aware that, given half a chance, a few would stick their knives into his back. 'Maruah' matters and this explains why some are upset with Thomas' book.
The junior civil servant has a job for life. He clocks in, clocks out, does the minimal amount of work required and prostrates himself before the people who matter. In time, he will work his way up the greasy civil service pole, in a dog-eat-dog world. Just observe how little Napoleons treat members of the public who are poor and illiterate at government counters. It's not nice.
Rice bowl
I recently wrote about a person who had clearly been promoted well beyond his capability, but some former civil servants disagreed.
My argument was that there were other capable people who were not 'yes' men, who were better qualified and whose experience in various fields would be advantageous. Meritocracy should be the main criterion, and people who are willing to question their superiors, would make better candidates.
The retort I received was that the man who had been promoted was a relative of so-and-so and how dare I question the appointment, especially as the candidate played golf with the head honcho.
So, is that it? According to this former civil servant, golf is the deciding factor. Is this how ministers are appointed? What if potential candidates for important positions pretend to miss the ball, or fluff putts, and allow the head honcho to win and make him thinks he is the best golfer in Putrajaya?
If some former civil servants prioritise golf, then you know why this country is in a mess today. You then wonder about the calibre of the current civil servants.
Perhaps, in another 10 years, when Malaysia finally hits rock bottom, the current crop of civil servants who enter retirement will emerge to demand action and reform, and call themselves the G50 group.
When asked why they did not speak up before, the former civil servants will say, "At the time, I suffered from PNS."
For those who are unaware, PNS is Periuk Nasi Syndrome.
Saya setuju dengan kak Mariam. But one thing I want to add is that the Malay (and the wannabe Malay) civil servant desires honorific titles, the Dato's, Tan Sri's and Tun's.
ReplyDeleteMany have multiple titles, like Jibby has TWELVE Dato's of various pangkats from virtually every state. But did that make him a good leader? No, he was a corrupt one.
The Malay (and pseudo Malay) psyche is "mesti ada gelaran dulu, baru boleh buat kerja"....
Classic example Rina (who?) Harun...
QUOTE
Rina Harun defends practice of receiving titles, honours
By Siti A’isyah Sukaimi and By Audrey Vijaindren
October 15, 2018
PUTRAJAYA: Rural Development Minister Datuk Seri Rina Harun has defended the practice of politicians accepting awards and titles, saying it would not lessen their effectiveness in serving the people.
Instead, such awards and honours would only serve to spur the recipients into working harder for the rakyat, she said.
UNQUOTE
Another example Health DG Noor Hisham was a most effective civil servant, bringing down the Covid cases to double digits, despite having an incompetent air suam Health Minister. But enter Yiddin who recommended him for a Tan Sri title and wallah, he transforms into an obedient and kwai-kwai civil servant, even trying to defend Yiddin's declaration of Emergency which was only to shut down parliament.
https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/560977
We should follow the examples of DAP leaders who shun any honorifics, like Father and Son, even after decades as Wakil Rakyat, as Opposition Leader, as Chief Minister, as Finance Minister tapi satu Dato pangkat bawah pun yilek.
That is why they can be effective leaders, because they owe their loyalty to no one but the rakyat, not to the boss who recommended them for the title, or to the establishment.
Syabas.
Wakakakakaka…
ReplyDelete1st the best epitaph for the so called G50 group.
2nd any more questions about WHY DAP was/is acting as u all like to tagged as bho nam par. Not only suffering from double talks amongst its political partners. But also all these PNS sufferers imposing their own roadblocks.