By Singa Terhormat
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It was lately reported that Dato’ Haji Fuad Bin Tan Sri Haji Hassan, Director-General of JASA (Department of Special Affairs under the Ministry of Information, Communication and Culture) at a Johor Social Media Partner gathering at the Johor International Convention Centre in Johor Baru had campaigned for Barisan Nasional in the coming elections.
He is reported by Malaysiakini to have said:
“God willing… BN could obtain a two-thirds victory in the upcoming general election if we continue to work hard and strive to achieve what was targeted.” (emphasis added)
Who is this Fuad Hassan?
He is brother to former IGP, Musa Hassan, and actor, Jalaluddin Hassan.
His father, Tan Sri Hj. Hassan Azhari was a well-known and respected Qur’an teacher.
Fuad was a two-term Barisan Nasional State Assemblyman before losing to Azmin Ali in 1999.
He was at one time also President of the Malaysian Youth Council.
Now, unless I have misread the relevant portions, the General Orders governing the conduct of civil servants, including those under contract, specify in Peraturan-Peraturan Pegawai Awam (Kelakuan dan Tatatertib) 1993 (P.U.(A) 395/1993 Section 21 (1) (a) that a civil servant in the category that Fuad Hassan is in, is not permitted to issue one-sided public statements on issues between political parties.
The relevant provision reads:
“21…seseorang pegawai dalam Kumpulan Pengurusan Tertinggi dan KumpulanPengurusan dan Profesional adalah dilarang mengambil bahagian aktif dalam aktiviti politik atau memakai mana-mana lambang sesuatu parti politik, dan khususnya dia tidak boleh-
(a) membuat apa apa pernyataan awam, sama ada secara lisan atau beretulis, yang memberikan sesuatu pandangan yang berat sebelah atas apa apa perkara yang menjadi isu diantara parti-parti politik”
Now we all know that civil servants are required and expected to be politically neutral in their work. Civil servants are required to serve whichever political party forms the government of the day and their work is expected to be non-partisan.
Civil servants are paid from public funds derived from taxes paid by members of the public including members and supporters of all political parties.
It is inherently wrong, ethically, morally and legally for a civil servant in his work to side with a political party.
I dare say it is wrong from Islam’s viewpoint too.
Referring now to what Fuad Hassan had to say, that is “God willing… BN could obtain a two-thirds victory in the upcoming general election if we continue to work hard and strive to achieve what was targeted” , I wish to advise him that what he has done is wrong, ethically, morally and legally, including too from the Islamic viewpoint.
I also wish to advise him not to use, which really amounts to abuse, the name of God in such circumstances.
I do hope, Fuad, that your late father, that well-known teacher of the Qur’an, did teach you that.
Let us now see whether any action will be taken against Fuad Hassan by the Chief Secretary to the Government, Dato’ Sri Ali Hamsa.
It will speak volumes of his leadership and dedication to serve thepeople of this nation, or the lack of it, depending on what he doesor does not in this matter.
As Malaysia’s foremost civil servant, heowes a duty to all of us to do what is right.
I do feel sorry for all our civil servants.
The BN Government hasstripped them of all sense of pride, respect and dignity in not allowingthem to conduct themselves professionally in their work and indenying them the opportunity to perform in a proper, neutral manneras dignified civil servants in their service to this nation.
They have overthe course of time been intimidated and threatened into submission by the BN politicians in Government and made, as in the case of Project IC in Sabah and in so many other instances, to act illegally and immorally.
How many a civil servant must have toiled with his conscience in doing the illegal and unethical bidding of his political masters, only God knows.
It is time for our civil servants to free themselves of this bullying that has gone on for too long and to reclaim their right to conduct themselves impartially and morally in serving the people of this nation in a.dignified, professional manner.
It is time for them to reclaim what is rightfully theirs.
It is time for them to try out a different set of political masters.
The matter, really, is in their own hands.
S. Menon
February 2, 2013
In the Army, we had a saying: There is no such thing as bad soldiers, only bad officers. The fish is said to rot from the head downwards and this may well be the case with our Civil Service.
What chance has a novitiate, upon entering the Service for the first time, to avoid becoming corrupt when those at senior levels are extremely corrupt.
Often, this sort of corruption need not necessarily or exclusively mean that they take bribes. It is the concept of service that often leads them astray. The role of the Civil Service is to serve the Government of the day, and, in Malaysia’s case right now, the BN Government. All too often, they read it to mean that they must be loyal ONLY to the BN Government, quite possibly because that is seen as the route for rapid promotion and/or recognition.
Whether or not they will work willingly with a PR Government has yet to be tested.
esshankar
February 2, 2013
In Malaysia they are called Civil Serpents. Not one of those at the top can be trusted, having been promoted way over the heads of more qualified and competent compatriots. BUMNO/ BN Prime MInisters only require that they learn to stroke the testicles of their politician masters with their forked-tongues!
Their rewards – the ususal Tan Sri or Dato and a cushy well-paid gaji buta position as chairsleepingman of some Govt Qango, and occasionally, a massively inflated toll highway, arms procurement, $250 million cowgate or construction farming out contract!
Dpp
we are all of 1 Race, the Human Race
YNWA
February 2, 2013
JASA is now reported as saying that Bersih 3.0 was
an opposition plot. Fuad, is your salary halal when
you go against the interest of those who contribute
to your salary and act illegally and imorally beyond
your job scope ?
Allah knows all that you do.
Invictus
February 3, 2013
Yes Fuad, Allah knows all that you do. He will not take into account all the titles, accolades and money that you receive in this world. They are temporary, or as someone once described it to me , only an illusion.
KKLim
February 2, 2013
I thought all public servants are also required to sign a “Akujanji”, whereby they have to pledge, amongst others, not to get involved in partisan politics, and any infringement of this Akujanji is a cause for disciplinary action. Well, the KSN now has no reason not to act, and he must act promptly to safeguard the neutrality and integrity of the public service.
tkicebow@gmail.com
February 3, 2013
Maybe our civil servants should be made aware that many of their peers who were involved in Project M n Project IC were sneakily locked up under the ISA by this very bn govt ,to perhaps ,stop them from spilling d beans.It is a cruel regime that would take away their freedom, commit treason,just to retain political power.
So, it is high time the civil servants demand freedom from political interference in their work.
Taipan
February 3, 2013
Fuad Hassan should be sacked as director-general of Jasa, because he had grossly abused his powers and position as a public servant as well as misused public funds. He should join UMNO to promote social media reach-out for UMNO/BN in the run-up to the 13GE, paid from party funds and not from public coffers for such a blatant political party objective. He has no business to lead an entire government department, Jasa, to campaign for UMNO/BN, paid from public funds, After 55 years of UMNO/BN rule, this gross abuse of public funds and misuse of government facilities, and malpractices have become more and more blatant, flagrant and rampant. These are only tip of the iceberg as we know.
Angoragal
February 3, 2013
As a young civil servant in the medical profession, I beg to differ with your last few statements, Singa Terhormat. Specifically this: “It is time for them to try out a different set of political masters.” Why do we need new political masters if the onus is on us to be politically neutral? In my opinion, for as long as the civil servant recognizes and keep in mind that the Rakyat is the true master, he/she can not go wrong. I serve the Rakyat, I am answerable to them and not to any political party in power, be it BN or otherwise. That is how I choose to conduct myself.
Another Anak Bangsa Malaysia
February 3, 2013
Angoragal,
I dips my lid to you
May you live long and prosper
shakuntala
February 3, 2013
In the days of the Tunku, the civil service was our proud bastion of proficiency , dignity and loyalty to a Government that was also loyal to the people…the civil service is duty bound to be the Peoples’ servants. For that a very honest and trustworthy civil service is the requirement. The word civil in itself has a refined meaning,…..it is associaited with a country’s citizenry….therefore those who serve in a Nation’s civil service have to be on best behaviour so to speak, serving the People, not aligned to any partisan thinking.
Can our presently serving civil service be said to be, of this calibre of public servants?
nan
February 3, 2013
civil/govt servants are meant servants of the govt of the day…servants just follow their masters’ commands…without question, if not, they will be moved or be transferred to timbuktu, that’s one of the threats/harassments they face while in service, that’s why after retirement, they naturally support the opposition or ABU…nan123
bigjoe99
February 3, 2013
From what I have read, he did not even seem to realize what he was doing although he would never admit it. The obvious malignant metastasis of the civil service is one thing, but I am not sure the instiutionalized ignorance and mediocrity is not a bigger problem in the end…When PR takes over, how do they pay the civil servants more while ridding themselves of the malignancy?
Invictus
February 3, 2013
The rot starts from the top. Taking, as a very simple example, the Chinese New Year banners depicting a beaming Najib , tied to every lampost in my area and probably yours as well. Now, I have no problem with the Prime Minister extending CNY greetings – in fact, I would expect him to. But really, does the BN symbol have to be part of the banner? Why does it not occur to Najib, JASA, and whoever else responsible, that this smacks of the use of public funds for political propaganda purposes? Do they not see how unethical it is?
shakuntala
February 3, 2013
Angoragal….i pity you for being so cock-eyed!…..never mind, since you say you are young, perhaps you need time.?? to change from being so innocent. Or are you being polite, civil?
Another Anak Bangsa Malaysia
February 5, 2013
shakuntala,
Eeerrr…. Angoragal was actually in support of a civil service which is subservient to the Rakyat
Ricky Rock
February 5, 2013
This very corrupted and evil govt must end and only way is to vote for a change to save this country from doom!
shakuntala
February 6, 2013
Another Anak Bangsa,…. many thanks, for the alert!
I meant to say that our friend Angoragal does not appear to be perturbed at serving under the present corrupt government…..at least he has to acknowledge this fact and not think that such a government need not be changed. His insistence on serving the Rakyat is noble, I acknowledge, but I don’t agree with his being so dumb neutral over what is disgusting people in the know.