[1159] Of how to increase productivity of the civil service?

Talk, talk, talk…

PUTRAJAYA: Civil servants should reframe or condition their minds to work harder and longer to increase the country’s productivity and realise the National Mission.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said: “There is no substitution for hard work and it should become our goal and culture.”

“Work is a virtue and not a punishment,” he said while addressing the monthly gathering of staff and officials of the Prime Minister’s Department here on Monday.[DPM: Civil servants should work harder to increase productivity. The Star. April 2 2007]

There is no substitution for hard work. Empty words are no substitutes for real incentives either. Words, even if it comes from a supreme being, means nothing without incentives. Unless, the supreme being is the Invisible Hand. Yes, hang me for blasphemy but economics is the all-powerful being. And I could hear the supreme being laughing at the Deputy Prime Minister’s words.

Despite that, I concur with the Deputy Prime Minister; the civil service needs to increase its productivity. I asked the almighty, “What kind of incentive could back up the Deputy Prime Minister’s word and realize the dream of higher productivity?”

The supreme being, as merciful as he is wise, brought light to darkness. And the Lord God said, “Behold! Increase thy civil servants’ salary up to competitive market level and cut down thy gluttonous workforce. Once wages are at par or even surpass that of the private sector, thy would have every reason to expect the best of men and women on this earth to flock in volume to join the realm of public service. Lo! Higher productive. Have faith in me and we shall make fruitful of your faith. Disbelieve in me and we shall leave you at the mercy thy own foolishness.”

Listen to the all powerful being. For he has spoken; before that is done, words are just words!