Clueless over a no-brainer

There are many senior people out there who “pura-pura” about not knowing the reasons. They still think Malaysians are stupid.

By James Chin (The Malaysian Insider)

This the story appeared in The Star:

Nanyang Siang Pau reported that the number of Chinese in the civil service has dropped tremendously despite the Government’s efforts to lure the community into the service. Although their recruitment had been the highest in recent years, the overall number was still smaller than five years ago, and even less compared to 10 years ago, Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Sidek Hassan told the daily.

He said that as of Sept 21 last year, only 6 per cent or 72,875 out of the 1.22 million government servants were Chinese. In 2005, there were 85,204 Chinese government servants, while there were 78,345 in 2000. Sidek said the Government had even collaborated with local Chinese organisations in recent years to conduct activities that would attract more Chinese to join the civil service. However, the response was poor, he said in an interview.

On another issue, the daily reported that from July to Dec 31 last year, the 1 Malaysia unit trust fund had attracted 237,404 local investors, of which 83 per cent were Chinese. Permodalan Nasional Bhd president and group CEO Tan Sri Hamad Kama Piah Che Othman said only 18 per cent was left for subscription out of the RM3bil quota for the Chinese. However, there was still 80 per cent available in the RM1.5 billion quota for Indians. For Bumiputera units, 95 per cent of the RM5 billion quota was available for subscription.

So two issues, which on the surface are unrelated: low number of Chinese (or non-Malays) in the civil service and low take up rate of 1 Malaysia unit trust fund.

Ask yourself this: Why would a Chinese want to join the civil service when the prospects of promotion are blocked by a glass ceiling? Since the implementation of the NEP, the civil service — according to speeches made at Umno assemblies and by right-wing groups — is a “Malay Institution”. Remember the incident over the appointment of a Chinese lady as manager of Selangor State Development Corporation (PKNS)? This lady, with more than 30 years experience with the corporation, was deemed unacceptable by PKNS staff who wanted a Malay, since it was a “Malay institution”. In the end, she was made “acting” head and had to retire. These sorts of stories are common in the civil service and GLCs.

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