MALAYSIA
Malaysia’s 2019 Budget will have two main themes — a better public transportation network and “fine-tuning” but no reductions in the Public Service — a top official has predicted.
Political Secretary to the Minister for Finance, Tony Pua (pictured) again rejected claims that the Budget will involve drastic action to reduce the size of the Public Service.
He said such a move would only court a negative response as well as sabotage from PS employees, thus the best resolution would be to streamline or fine-tune the system.
“Allocations for Civil Servants, including emoluments and pensions, are among the items that needed the biggest allocations in Budgets tabled by the Government over the years,” Mr Pua said.
“If you trim 20 per cent, you are able to enjoy huge savings, but it would lead to a negative effect as the administration process and Government efforts would be jeopardised.”
He said there was no need to talk about figures such as 20 per cent.
“Even if it was a 5 per cent cut from the present allocation, the present Government would no longer be in power as it would be sabotaged by the Civil Servants themselves,” Mr Pua said.
He said an alternative choice would be a zero-based Budget, which would see all Ministries retain their requests for allocations, including requests for additional staff in their respective Departments.
Under this initiative, excess staff in one Department would be reassigned elsewhere based on requirements and suitability.
“This process will take time, but it can optimise human resources and must be done from now,” Mr Pua said.
Meanwhile, a new report has found that the majority of Malaysians who want to switch careers are looking for employment in the Public Service and Defence.
Recruitment company Monster.com said about 12 per cent of the 799 Malaysians surveyed chose those two sectors, while another 12 per cent were keen to join the education sector.
“The biggest reasons for making a career switch were the desire for a better salary and financial stability, followed by a lack of growth opportunities in their current industry,” the Monster.com said.
Kuala Lumpur, 31 October 2018
