PH has learned how to handle civil service, says Santiago
Former Klang MP Charles Santiago of DAP in an interview with comedian Harith Iskander.
PETALING JAYA: Former Klang MP Charles Santiago said Pakatan Harapan leaders have learned how to manage the civil service as a result of its 22 months in Putrajaya.
He said the coalition had faced a hurdle after winning the 2018 general election but the civil service eventually warmed up to PH ways. But by then the coalition had lost power.
Santiago said when PH had taken over the federal government, the civil service was “entrenched with looking at development and the future of the country a certain way” after half a century under Barisan Nasional.
“The PH leaders, in the 22 months, realised there was a way to manage the civil service. They have learned a lesson, some faster than others.
“Some of the things they need to think about is not to order and instruct people, that is where the problem starts. We can be friendlier and consultative to get (the civil service’s) buy-in (on policies) first,” he said during an interview with comedian Harith Iskander.
Eventually the civil servants came around and warmed up to the PH government’s way of doing things but by then, after 22 months, the coalition lost control over Putrajaya because of the Sheraton Move.
Looking ahead, Santiago said that should PH reclaim power, one of the biggest challenges for the coalition would be to improve the education system.
He cited complaints by employers on the quality of job applicants, often choosing foreign graduates over locally-qualified ones.
He also said there is a great need to digitalise small and medium industries so that they can be pushed to be on par with global competitors.
Voting in 15th general election
Santiago expressed concern that the new Covid-19 outbreak from a new sub-variant may deter people from casting their ballots on Nov 19.
This was an additional worry, as flooding from the monsoon season, forecast to occur from mid-November, would affect voter turnout.
When asked about voting patterns by the youth, Santiago said he believes that young voters were likely to choose candidates as dictated by their parents.
He said that it’s a failure in the nation’s education system that doesn’t prepare young people to make such crucial decisions.
Halloween party raid
Harith also asked Santiago for his thoughts on why other “people in power” were silent on the raid on a Halloween party that was attended by members of the LGBT community over the weekend.
“My view is that the political parties are positioning themselves before an election and through this they are trying to say ‘I am more Muslim than the others’,” he said.
Santiago was one of the earliest to condemn the raids, urging the authorities to stop targeting the marginalised LGBTQ+ community.
PETALING JAYA: Former Klang MP Charles Santiago said Pakatan Harapan leaders have learned how to manage the civil service as a result of its 22 months in Putrajaya.
He said the coalition had faced a hurdle after winning the 2018 general election but the civil service eventually warmed up to PH ways. But by then the coalition had lost power.
Santiago said when PH had taken over the federal government, the civil service was “entrenched with looking at development and the future of the country a certain way” after half a century under Barisan Nasional.
“The PH leaders, in the 22 months, realised there was a way to manage the civil service. They have learned a lesson, some faster than others.
“Some of the things they need to think about is not to order and instruct people, that is where the problem starts. We can be friendlier and consultative to get (the civil service’s) buy-in (on policies) first,” he said during an interview with comedian Harith Iskander.
Eventually the civil servants came around and warmed up to the PH government’s way of doing things but by then, after 22 months, the coalition lost control over Putrajaya because of the Sheraton Move.
Looking ahead, Santiago said that should PH reclaim power, one of the biggest challenges for the coalition would be to improve the education system.
He cited complaints by employers on the quality of job applicants, often choosing foreign graduates over locally-qualified ones.
He also said there is a great need to digitalise small and medium industries so that they can be pushed to be on par with global competitors.
Voting in 15th general election
Santiago expressed concern that the new Covid-19 outbreak from a new sub-variant may deter people from casting their ballots on Nov 19.
This was an additional worry, as flooding from the monsoon season, forecast to occur from mid-November, would affect voter turnout.
When asked about voting patterns by the youth, Santiago said he believes that young voters were likely to choose candidates as dictated by their parents.
He said that it’s a failure in the nation’s education system that doesn’t prepare young people to make such crucial decisions.
Halloween party raid
Harith also asked Santiago for his thoughts on why other “people in power” were silent on the raid on a Halloween party that was attended by members of the LGBT community over the weekend.
“My view is that the political parties are positioning themselves before an election and through this they are trying to say ‘I am more Muslim than the others’,” he said.
Santiago was one of the earliest to condemn the raids, urging the authorities to stop targeting the marginalised LGBTQ+ community.
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