Inclusiveness secret to our success

ALMOST all Malaysians will agree with Datuk Seri Azman Ujang's views in his excellent article entitled "We are more inclusive now" (Off the Cuff, July 20).
With the new government fortunately at the helm and with so much positive reforms adopted and implemented so soon within about 70 days only, Azman has boldly highlighted one of the Pakatan Harapan government's highest achievements. Yes indeed, the PH government has become "more inclusive now".
I might add that the lack of adequate inclusiveness and the predominance of dominance and exclusiveness, often based on race and religion and even geography, have been some of the main causes of our national disunity, polarisation and a lack of the sense of belonging and relative neglect of meritocracy and consequently leading to corruption and possible decline.
One can argue with much conviction that our national progress, productivity and general success as a nation have been considerably constrained due to the exclusive policies and practices implemented under the distorted affirmative action programmes related to the New Economic Policies in the past.
Our pragmatic Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has honestly stated in Parliament that "Archaic laws and problems in the civil service are posing a hurdle to Pakatan Harapan fulfilling its promises for the first 100 days". The PM even said that "some government officers were incompetent and needed to be replaced".
Surely among over 1.6 million civil servants there will be some bad apples as in the case of the private sector too. But the question arises as to how large is this bad component of incompetent civil servants.
Can't they be discharged more speedily as they would be in the private sector?
Is the exclusive policy widely practised by the old government largely to blame and can the new government take urgent steps to stop the rot of incompetence among public servants who are paid by the taxpayers and who should serve all Malaysians much better?
The public service could of course be demoralised by this public criticism in Parliament but amends can be made. The new PH government could also recognise that Malaysia has progressed thus far because of the comparatively high standards of the public service as the backbone of the administration. But it should be improved.
Thus the new government could set up a royal commission or a parliamentary committee to recommend ways to improve the public services in the national interest. Inclusiveness, meritocracy and equity could be strongly advocated, not only in the public service but also all branches of the armed forces and indeed in the whole country.
All Malaysians should warmly welcome the new high appointments and impressively, several non-Malay ministers as standard bearers for inclusiveness for the new Malaysia.
Similarly, instead of having only two non-Malay secretaries-general out of about 30 in all, we could have a much higher number, to better reflect our multi-cultural population, in the whole public services, including the police and armed forces.
With even more inclusiveness, we will be able to raise our sense of belonging and be prouder to call ourselves Malaysians. The greater pursuit of inclusiveness will be our secret positive and pertinent weapon for greater success as a united and progressive and truly Malaysian nation.
We all hope that the government stresses inclusiveness in all aspects of its government and governance and values and attitudes, to all Malaysians, whether they are in the peninsula, Sabah or Sarawak.
Then the 100-day target for implementing the PH manifesto could be extended to 200 days or more, provided the targets are fully, effectively and harmoniously implemented with inclusiveness in the broader national interests?
In moving forward with the spirit of fairness, righteousness and justice, surely we all wish the PH government all the best.
We will be hoping and praying for its continuing success.
Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam
Chairman
Asli Centre for Public Policy Studies