We can streamline civil service like DOGE in US, says Khairy

FMT:

 

We can streamline civil

service like DOGE in US,

says Khairy

Minderjeet Kaur

-11 Feb 2025, 11:50 PM

The former minister says the civil service can be restructured by retraining and redeploying civil servants.

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Former health minister Khairy Jamaluddin suggested a phased approach but dismissed the possibility of job cuts as the civil service adapts to automation and future demands.

PETALING JAYA: 

Former health minister Khairy Jamaluddin says he agrees with the idea of a Malaysian equivalent of the US Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to streamline civil service operations.

In the first episode of his Kena Soal podcast with former Umno information chief Shahril Hamdan, Khairy said such a department should likely be run by “someone bright from the private sector”, and that he would ask that person for a roadmap to restructure the civil service.

However, he dismissed the possibility of job cuts as the civil service adapts to automation and future demands, proposing that workers be retrained and redeployed instead.

“I would not sack a single civil servant. But we must redeploy them to tasks that are needed for the next five to 10 years. Automation is inevitable and retraining must start now,” he said.

Khairy was replying to a question from a listener who asked if the government should look to implement an entity similar to DOGE.

He suggested a phased approach that may take five to 15 years, during which civil servants could be redeployed and reassigned to roles that align with the country’s evolving needs.

“It will take time to retrain them, but it is essential to ensure that the civil service remains relevant and efficient,” he said.

Khairy said this approach would involve “sunsetting certain tasks” if the government knows a department will only need 20 people in five years.

However, he acknowledged that pushback often occurs when a politician touches on the necessary size of the civil service workforce, particularly in Malaysia’s political context.

“Even if we specify the ideal ratio for the civil service, it might come at a political price too high for any politician to attempt,” he said.

Khairy said the public services department (JPA) could manage this transition, and begin adjusting civil service operations now so that certain departments become more streamlined in the next five years.

“The (civil servants in) positions that are no longer needed can be quietly reallocated to other areas,” he said.

Meanwhile, Shahril called for updated civil service regulations to align with automation trends and urged policymakers to prioritise efficiency over political considerations.