None from Sabah, Sarawak

Borneo Post

7/6/2012

William Ghani Bina

SIBU: Teachers unions unhappy East M’sia not represented in transformation commission.

The Joint Committee of Teachers Unions and Associations of Sabah and Sarawak yesterday voiced deep dissatisfaction that they had been sidelined from giving input on the study of the transformation of the civil service.“None of those appointed to the Special Commission to study the transformation of the civil service was from Sabah or Sarawak. And this is a glaring contradiction of the 1Malaysia spirit,” its chairman William Ghani Bina bemoaned.To this, Ghani suggested: “There should be at least one member from each state in the commission since locals are better aware of the ground situation and can give a more holistic input.”

He was compelled to speak out as many had called him to express their deep disappointment over the matter.

“I have been swarmed with calls and many asserted that under the 1Malaysia sun, input and view from East Malaysians must be sought to ensure a more balanced view for the study.

“Those from Sabah and Sarawak must not be sidelined and the appointment of committee members to the special commission must include those from the two states,” he reiterated.

Last Sunday, Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan was quoted by Bernama to have said former chief justice Tun Zaki Azmi had been appointed chairman of the Special Commission to study the transformation of the civil service in a comprehensive and holistic manner.

The six committee members appointed to the commission were former Public Service Department director-general Tan Sri Ismail Adam, former education director-general Tan Sri Alimuddin Mohd Dom, former auditor-general Tan Sri Dr Hadenan A Jalil, former deputy inspector-general of police Tan Sri Hussin Ismail, former army training commander Maj-Gen (R) Datuk Che Hasni Che Ahmad and Cuepacs president Datuk Omar Osman.According to Mohd Sidek, the commission is given a mandate to submit recommendations to the government in six months’ time.He added that they would be given due consideration based on the government’s financial capability.

Meanwhile, the commission will not only conduct a study on civil servants’ remuneration but ways to transform and redefine the public service for future needs as envisaged by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak at a special gathering with civil servants in Putrajaya on Mar 8.