theSun | WEDNESDAY APRIL 29 2009
speak up!
THE OBJECTIVES
TO achieve greater unity
among Malaysians
Don’t get fixed by Mr Fixits!
IT has been almost three weeks
since the prime minister announced
his new cabinet line-up. Some new
to their portfolios are on fact-finding
visits and attending briefings by the
civil servants. No one is groping in the
dark anymore – at least that’s what
we think or the ministers themselves
think. Everyday, we see images of
the “new” ministers visiting one or
another agency or department under
their purview.
Well, that’s the way to start – to
know everything each ministry is
supposed to do. Don’t forget the
three new magic letters – KPI, or key
performance indicators. They will
be judged in six months, we have
been told.
So, can we, the rakyat, judge the
performance of the people whose
salaries come from our hard-earned
money? No, the Economic Planning
Unit (EPU) will do that, not the new
minister, Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon.
In order for the ministers to
give their best, they should be in
the know. Facts and figures should
be on their fingertips. At a drop of
a hat, they should be able to rattle
off answers to questions in Parlia-
ment, not get caught flat-footed by a
supplementary question to which
they haven’t a clue.
But before they are asked, they
should ask themselves this question:
Am I, as the minister, being told what
I should know or am I being told
what the civil servants think I as the
minister should know? It’s pertinent
because there’s this misconception
that civil servants administer the
ministry while the minister is merely
the policymaker.
11
RUKUN NEGARA: THE PRINCIPLES
BELIEF LOYALTY TO KING THE SUPREMACY THE RULE COURTESY AND
IN GOD AND COUNTRY OF THE OF LAW MORALITY
CONSTITUTION
TO maintain a TO create a just society in TO ensure a liberal approach TO build a progressive society
democratic way of life which the wealth of the nation to her rich and diverse which shall be oriented to modern
shall be equitably shared cultural traditions science and technology
The intertwining Council until he read roles as “confidants”, in the process, a tête-à-tête with the minister upon
of these functions has bits and pieces in the playing the role of spin-doctor. a call from his press secretary, but
brought about colossal newspapers. No one told They are willing to arrange photo these spin-doctors claim they have
loss of money and em- him because the stock opportunities for the minister and “influential friends” in “high places”
barrassment to people answer was: “You didn’t organise meetings with editors who and that he would do the bidding on
in high places. While ask!” most of the time are the spin-doctor’s the minister’s behalf.
the chief secretary to The financial burden coterie of friends. That perhaps explains why only
the government has incurred by entering, in Above all, they have invested a select few were invited for a dia-
told his officials that some instances, dubious heavily in visuals and story boards logue with the new sports minister.
they should “stand up deals and some which complete with a media plan to Some even offer themselves as
and tell the minister if bring little or no ben- “enhance the image of the minis- “personal trainers” and there is no
he or she is doing the CitizenNades efit by one agency or the ter”. While the prime minister has dearth of people lining up to pay for
wrong thing”, many other is “classified” – an expressed his displeasure of im- the services and the travel costs of
by R. Nadeswaran
have adopted the sim- edict which some civil ages of ministers being plastered on such so-called fitness experts.
ple civil standard rule The list is endless. The
– saya yang menurut middlemen, the image consultants,
perintah. (If you Google this phrase, the publicity coordinator and the
there are about 52,000 entries from Mr Fixits have already made their
Malaysian web pages.) rounds selling their ware and their
Some are compelled to menurut services.
perintah, lest they be sent to Siberia There’s nothing they cannot
(perhaps Grik or Kuala Krai in the arrange. And if ministers are not
Malaysian context); others play ball already aware, many of them have
by menurut-ing the perintah to be already been identified by the media
in the minister’s good books. The and are being closely watched. Some
minority who stand up and say their may even go to the extent of paying
piece, under normal circumstances, for the minister’s medical bills or his
should be rewarded, but this is maid’s air-ticket.
hardly the case. So, at the end of it all, while the
But back to the issue of what EPU may be evaluating the KPIs,
information the minister needs to servants think they are entitled to billboards, these spin-doctors have the people will continue to monitor
achieve his targets. He has to know use to suit their convenience. But detailed plans on “subtle messages” their conduct and those who are
everything. Make no mistake. Some perhaps, the new culture should and “soft-sell” advertising concepts. perceived as their cronies. You have
civil servants may want to keep the be: “I have done nothing wrong; What does he get in return? A been warned!
skeletons in the cupboard – only for therefore, I have nothing to hide.” 15% commission on media bookings,
the preview of a select few who feel But we will not see that even in our advertising and perhaps millions in
that they will not reveal until asked. grandchildren’s generation. concept fees, art-work, production R. Nadeswaran has had many en-
Even when asked, no need for The civil servants must imple- costs, etc. That adds up to quite a counters with ministers’ spin-doctors
the details – just a summary would ment the policies which in most sum because at least one of them is who come with all kinds of “ideas”
suffice. Ask Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri cases are as transparent as glass; the known to have bought three luxury and suggestions. But nothing works
Yaakob, the former youth and sports bigger fear is those with sharpened cars – in hard cash – in one working except the truth. He is editor (special
minister. He did not know the extent knives out to tear a hole in the coffers day! and investigative reporting) at theSun.
of the commitments made by the of the ministry or its agencies. Some No editor or journalist worth his He can be reached at citizen-nades@
ministry and the National Sports have already eased themselves into salt will turn down an invitation for thesundaily.com.