There is a risk in awarding brooms to inefficient civil servants, observes our roving correspondent Tota. The recipients may use the brooms to sweep
more things under the carpet. There is a danger too that some crony
contractor may supply the Selangor State government brooms costing RM38
instead of RM3.80. Remember, a RM40 set of screwdrivers was supplied
to one Ministry for RM224!
From time immemorial, crime and punishment have been part and parcel of human life. The dilemma has been in deciding what punishment befits what crime. Jesus said, “He that has not sinned let him cast the first stone.” When a call was made to adopt stoning to death as a form of punishment, in true Islamic style, our Bapa Malaysia said that if we implemented it, there would not be enough stones in Malaysia!
The Mentri Besar of Selangor, Toyo, has cast the first broom by initiating the “bouquet broom” award as punishment for inefficient civil servants in his state. He need not worry about a shortage of brooms. The broom cost only RM3.80 and it is an inexpensive way of punishing enept civil servants. More than the broom, it sends a strong message to the inefficient and inept. Going by the Auditor-General’s Report, Toyo is going to need thousands of brooms.
In fairness to the civil servants, corrupt and inefficient politicians too should be given “bouquet brooms”. This will be very much in line with Shahrir’s call to punish decision-makers as well. The way Toyo handled the case of Zakaria, who broke almost every law in the law book, qualifies him for a large broom indeed. In a biblical sense, Toyo can see the mote in another’s eye but not the beam in his own!
Some interesting scenarios can develop out of this “bouquet broom” award. The recipients may use the brooms to sweep more things under the carpet. There is a danger too that some crony contractor may supply the Selangor State government brooms costing RM38 instead of RM3.80. Remember, a RM40 set of screwdrivers was supplied to one Ministry for RM224!
The award ceremony confirmed what Citizen Nades has pointed out many times. The inefficient and inept are often promoted. The Hulu Selangor Land Office former district officer, who was to have received a “bouquet broom”, had promoted to the post of Klang Municipal Council President.
Toyo, have mercy on the people of Klang. Do not add to their suffering.
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