Friday, March 12, 2010

EXTENSION OF SERVICE

It was reported that the Chief Secretary to the government Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan’s who is due to retire on 23rd June 2010, has had his service extended for a year until 23rd June 2011. It would appear that extending the service of senior government officers is now a norm rather than a case-by-case basis.

If one looks back at past holders of the appointment of the Chief Secretary, each and every one of them has had their service extended pass their compulsory retirement age. Even now, when the retirement age of civil servants have been extended from 55 years to 58 years, a further extension is still needed for some. Why is this so, is baffling. If this be the case, why not just extend the service of all government servants to 60 years, like in most developed countries. I retired at the age of 55 years, and I am now 66 years old and am not yet senile. In other words, I am still productive, with the mental capacity to think ably.

I believe this issue has been debated many a times, and I remembered, even Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah (Ku LI) has given his opinion that does not favour the extension of service of selected senior government servants. It is quite absurd to say the least, that the extension is needed to maintain continuity. And what is so important that others cannot continue or perform the job of the incumbent. If this be the reason, than there is something seriously wrong with the succession plans within the top echelon of the civil service.

The same can also be said of the Armed Forces. How many times has the holder of the post of the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) been extended? It is a norm that the holder of the post gets an extension; sometime up to a third extension. Why has this to be so for the Armed Forces, where it practices a high level of deputation for almost every appointment?

Taking the case of the CDF, anytime when the CDF is away or invalid, either one of the service chief will deputized the appointment. There is absolutely no problem with this arrangement, because at the level of the service chiefs, there is already a common understanding among all the three service chiefs, as to the nature of work that the CDF does, and whatever he does is to the knowledge of the service chiefs. In very simple terms, every action of the CDF is known to the service chiefs, and that the CDF does not decide or do things unilaterally.

The same can also be said of the position of the three service chiefs, where each has a deputy. And it is for the aforesaid reasons that I do not see any justifiable reason for the post of the CDF and the three service chiefs be extended pass their compulsory retirement age.

I am informed that the Chief of Army is due to retire in a few months from now, and there is already a talk that he is seeking an extension, or is awaiting for the government to offer him an extension, as reported in the media. I am also aware that the CDF has not many more months left, and let us hope that there is already a clear succession plan as to who should be the next CDF, and also the new Chief of Army.

CRUSADE AGAINST CORRUPTION

18 comments:

Capt's Longhouse said...

Dato,

,,,just for a laugh ! hehehe

Dear People of Malaysia, (some local news up-dates !!) hehehe.

,,,Due to the current financial situation caused by the slowdown of the Economy, your Putrajawa Government has decided to implement a scheme to put Workers 50 years of age and older on early retirement. This scheme Will be known as RAPE (Retire Aged People Early).

,,,Persons selected to be RAPED can apply to the government to be eligible For the SHAFT scheme (Special Help After Forced Termination).

,,,Persons who have been RAPED and SHAFTED will be reviewed under the SCREW program (Scheme Covering Retired Early Workers). A person may be RAPED once, SHAFTED twice and SCREWED as many times as the government Deems appropriate.

,,,Only persons who have been RAPED can get AIDS (Additional Income for Dependants & Spouse) or HERPES (Half Earnings for Retired Personnel Early Severance). Obviously, persons who have AIDS or HERPES will not Be SHAFTED or SCREWED any further by the government..

,,,Persons who are not RAPED and are staying on, will receive as much SHIT (Special High Intensity Training) as possible. The government Has always prided itself in the amount of SHIT it gives out. Should You feel that you do not receive enough SHIT, please bring this to the Attention of your local MP. They have been trained to give you all the SHIT you can handle.

Sincerely,

Najis @ mdm Piggy’s hubby.

norzah said...

Sdr MAR, I am as baffled as u r on why govt likes to extend the services of old chiefs who're not, according to the tribes and clan members that effective. The obvious answer is that they are the status quo preservers (SQP) - kedepan tak kebelakang tak duk tang tu je. Govt keeps calling for innovation, creativeness etc, tapi (chief sitting) bull di atas tak berubah. I call the old chiefs SQP but Capt Longhouse have more juicy and imaginative titles. I guess all dynamic and creative deputy chiefs will just have to
wait until 'the last post' is played.

Mohd Arshad Raji said...

Dear Capt Longhouse,

That's a laughable one. Creative and lots of fun to read. For all you know, the govt may decide to use of the things that you have said. Regards.

komando said...

What a way to go...on and on...tipu demi tipu demi tipu rakyat akan ditipu terus!

The excuse no suitable and capable candidate!

Just like the tok uban from east malaysia.

He is waiting for his grandson to step into his shoes I Guess !

Same same like all important post in the gormen.

Must have YES MAN..all three bags full, probably all SHIT heads will rule this land finally!

Land of bull shit, no land under the WIND !

EAGLE said...

Dato'
Anybody cares to check the background of the present Chief Secretary? Ever since he took over as the top boss of the civil servants, what has he done that merit his service to be extended? Ayoyo... real jerks maybe this guy stayed too long in the USA and did nothing and only sharpen his apple polishing skill and the Putrajawa government is happy to extend his service...macam tak ada orang lain!!!
As for the Armed Forces, wonder what will happen? CDF of the tip of the iceberg should be SHAFT.
Rotating the the CDF post among the three services is a mockery, it is not my turn and your turn, it should be merit and the right man for the job.
If there is extension in the Armed Forces, so say--- Wither the Armed Forces!!!

Unknown said...

Dato, For your information, even though I was selected 10 times as best employee of the year (operator only)and at the age of 55 years old the company asked me for compulsary retirement. I am honoured and proud of new generation going to replace. But what happened to the civil servants. Lebih kepada balas budi dari excellent performance. Tak malu mereka kepada kalangan kami yang bergaji kecil ini pun berbangga bersara dan tabah menghadapi kehidupan kian perit ini.

Mej. Dr. Nor Ibrahim bin Sulaiman PTU TUDM (B) said...

Dear Dato',

They're INDISPENSABLE...without them the whole government machinery will collapse..he..he..he.

Unknown said...

Well, before they are due to retire they'll cry and beg their bosses to give them an extension.

I was privy to one while on the golf course one day. This outgoing PTD was virtually begging the Defence Minister then, Pak Syed, to allow him another year in office. Fortunately, the Yemeni prince did not relent.

Mereka ni tak bermaruah. Kalau dah sampai tempo nak retire, retire aje lah. Jangan merayu dan menangis macam budak-budak.

amin said...

If what you say is true, then I feel sorry for the army that their chief is asking for an extension. Of course there were precedents before where excuses such as rumah belum siap or the one to take over is not ready yet were used. I know when you are at the peak of power it can be very difficult and scary to let go. But the reality is that you are just delaying the inevitable. Eventually you still have to retire. However I still think that you belittle the position you hold when you seek an extension. However if you are so great and indispensable, then it the government that will offer you an extension. That is the prerogative of the government.

taming said...

Malulah sikit, bila masa bersara dah tiba bermacam-macamlah ajenda dan perancangan untuk "meminta sedekah" daripada pemimpin politik untuk menyambung perkhidmatan!

Apa ni? Cukuplah! Jika PAT dan PTD terlintas niat mahu sambung lagi, tak usahlah dan malulah sikit. Jangan ikut budaya KSN atau PAT dulu-dulu, kononnya "the government wants me to extend"..... bullshit!

Remember, you are not the best person to continue to "tongkat langit"! Your successor must be given a chance and he will do much better job than you, I bet.

Salam,
tamingsari

Anonymous said...

DATO,
Orang kampong saya kata kelapa bila dah tua dipanggil kelapa tua dan banyak santannya.Kalau tua sangat dipanggil kotai dan akan gugur bila bila masa sahaja.Kelapa muda pun banyak gugur ini kan pula kelapa kotai.Ini yang nak sambung khidmat ni jenis kelapa tua yang tak sedar diri ,sepatutnya bila umur menjangkau 60an belah le.Pegi masjid atau surau tiap tiap hari kan bagus daripada hidup terus dicaci,dibenci,dihina,disumpah masyarakat dan orang bawahan kerana ingin mengekalkan pangkat, kedudukan,keistimewaan dan terus menjilat.Sebab itu tak nak berhenti dan sambung terus. Bukan kah lebih arif dan mulia sekiranya mereka ini semua "dont overstay their welcome" and get lost .....................

taming said...

Dato',

Masalahnya bila pakai bintang berkilat-kilat dibahu, tabik sana tabik sini, ada ADC, MA, ada close escort, outrider dengan kereta peronda lampu berkelip-kelip, di pintu rumah ada pengawal, makan sana makan sini FOC, main golf tak pernah beli golf set, bola atau T, dan isterinya pula pakai lima bintang dan dijilat sana sini oleh orang bawah dan isteri mereka, maka susahlah nak lepas gaya hidup
ala firaun!

Jadi, berusahalah mahu bina kem baru, ada projek hebat untuk PM dan Menteri Pertahanan. Selama ini
buat apa? Hidup ghairah dengan pangkat, kuasa dan mengejar harta dan wang ringgit! Kalau tidak percaya tanya kontrektor-kontrektor yang terlibat
dengan sistem pertahanan ATM.

Saya seru lagi sekali, jika ada terlintas niat mahu sambung, insaflah dan jangan, jangan! Berilah peluang kepada orang di bawah. Cukuplah, jangan kita dipersalahkan kerana terus mahu "menjilat" pemimpin politik!

Unknown said...

Dato'

I bet KSN will stay until next GE, macam IGP. Depa ni dah kawtim dgn PM, akan guna jentera kerajaan bantu BN menang. They know so much of the game plan, so its risky for PM to let them go. Don't be surprise others will also get extended. What PM don't understand, the longer these guys stay, the bigger liability they are to gov. People want not only to remove the gov, but also these overstayers.

Unknown said...

Amin,

The perks that come with the office and position are not easy to get especially when you're out in the streets all by yourself.

I met one of my seniors at the post office one day and he complained how difficult life was out of uniform. No ADC, no staff car, no batman and a number of other nos. He now had to queue at the post office like others. I told him that all good things must come to an end. That made him think.

Anyway, about the PTD who begged for an extension on the golf course. We' re on the same flight. At the club house before the game he was beaming with joy expecting an affirmative answer from the Yemeni prince. However, after the game when I approached him he just mumbled something and walked away. I knew what the answer was. The prince's MA confirmed later.

Life is short, make the best of things. Too bad these top guns when they are out they are really out - I mean literally. Life for them stops after they are given their new ICs.

Although I am in my 60s I still have a job and an office to go to.

There's plenty to be done. If you can't find something to do join an NGO. Pray by all means but don't shut yourself and shun your friends. There's more to life than the four walls within your house.

Cheers.

taming said...

Dear Saudara Fathol,

May be you and I should have a teh tarik mamak under a tree somewhere to share your stories and my experiences which could well be about the same character.

The world is very small and we must be talking about the same army senior whom I played golf with at the same golf club though on different dates and golf flights!

My sincere advice to top military brasses, stop being greedy and humiliate yourself by begging for extension of service which I hope the PM will not accept.

Dear Mr. Prime Minister, the past extensions of service to top military brasses had created more harm than good to the entire military community. I hope you do not repeat the same mistakes!

1MALAYSIA Supporter

amin said...

Fathol,
I agree with you in that life does not end with retirement. In fact a new life can start with retirement. You are free of all the shackles of service life. You can now do all the things that you always wanted to do but did not have the time for during service. You are free to live life the way you want to, of course within the limits of your affordability. Retirement as in death is inevitable, so leave when your time is up and enjoy life. The longer you stay the less time you have for retirement. Thanks mate.
Regards

Capt's Longhouse said...

guys,

,,,The most precious, creative and innovative period in your life is the 10-year period around the age of 32.
,,,Plan your career path to use this precious 10-year period wisely and effectively to produce your greatest achievements in your life.
,,,The pace of innovations and technology advances is getting faster and faster and is forcing everybody to compete fiercely at the Internet speed on the information super-highways. The highly productive and highly efficient workplace in this present world is a pressure-cooker and a high-speed battle ground for highly creative and dynamic young people to compete and to flourish.
,,,However, when you get older, you should plan your career path and financial matter so that you can retire comfortably at the age of 55 or earlier to enjoy your long, happy and leisure retirement life into your golden age of 80s and beyond.
,,,In retirement, you can still enjoy some fun work of great interest to you and of great values to the society and the community, but at a part-time leisure pace on your own term.
,,,On the other hand, if you are not able to get out of the pressure-cooker or the high-speed battle ground at the age of 55 and “have” to keep on working very hard until the age of 65 or older before your retirement, then you probably will die within 18 months of retirement.
,,,By working very hard in the pressure cooker for 10 more years beyond the age of 55, you give up at least 20 years of your life span on average.

Unknown said...

Dear Dato',
The extension given to heads of department in Malaysia has become so entrenched in the system it has become a 'budaya'.
Admittedly, these extensions were neccessary, example, Tun Ahmad Sarji. But he was an outstanding public servant and a source of inspiration to all serving the country. Can we say the same for those that have been granted extentions in recent times.
A case in point is the former PAT. Not only was he given extension after extension, he is now our ambassador to France. What extraordinary service has he given to the nation? Maybe some of you from the RAMD can give us some clue.
So, the fact of the matter is, for the majority of extensions granted by the govt, the question of suitability and credibility of the individual have remained clouded. And until such time this aspect is properly tackled and debated, the public will continue to question the Govt's objectivity.
So what has happened in this blessed country of ours? The proccess itself has taken the form of 'budaya'. And as a result, everybody in high places, be they good or bad, crooked or honest, will surely feel that they are entitled to it.
Add to that the inherent characteristic of ' tak segan silu' (honour-less creed) of our military top brass, can you blame the current PTD to aspire for an extension. After all ' raja mana yang nak turun tahta?