The Public Service Department (PSD) should trim down departments that do not "benefit the rakyat" instead of freezing the intake of new civil servants outright, in particular for the Health Ministry, an opposition lawmaker said.
Kulai MP Teo Nie Ching ( photo ) said among those that should face the first cut are departments such as the ‘First Lady of Malaysia’ (FLOM).
"While the size of civil service is also a huge concern, an outright freeze on new posts over all ministries does not make any sense.
"Instead, the PSD should pin down and reduce the size of certain departments that do not really benefit the rakyat, such as FLOM, Special envoys and special advisers under the PM’s Department, Special Branch, Department of Special Affairs (Jasa), [...] and many others," she said in a statement today.
In 2011 the appearance of a FLOM division courted controversy, but was later explained as an informal department made up of seconded officers who help the prime minister's wife Rosmah Mansor with her duties.
Teo was responding to a PSD announcement that it would freeze new posts to control the size of the civil service.
The DAP lawmaker cautioned this will severely impact the public health sector.
Spare health and education
"The freeze of new posts as announced by the PSD will jeopardise the opening of new hospitals and the service rendered to the patients.
" The PSD has said that the freeze of new posts in the civil service would be offset by efforts to increase employment opportunities in the private sector.
"However, turning to private sector also means higher medical bills," she said.
"Other than Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education will also need to hire more teachers as new schools are on the way," she added.
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