Work is Worship

Labour Day is celebrated on May 1^st annually throughout the world to appreciate all those involved in toiling in various types of jobs. This includes work contributed at the lowest level to the highest level. Work has been always a predominant issue in our society. Without the workers, all activities will come to a standstill. At this juncture let us salute all the workers who have toiled to make our nation progressive and prosperous.

What is work? Work is something that one is doing, making or performing especially as an occupation or understanding as explained in a dictionary. All men and women are obligated to engage in any work, whether trade or any other profession to earn a living. But what kind of engagement is wanted in carrying out our work?

Let us view the perspective of work in a spiritual sense.

Firstly, the desire to work should be paramount. It is pointless if a worker has no desire to work but merely carries out work as a mundane one. This kind of mendacity should be wiped out in the work force as it brings no betterment for the employer and the nation.

Work should be seen as a form of worship which means work performed in a spirit of service.  Work should be done in the right spirit. i.e. in a spirit of worship. Work is not carried out merely for monetary gains only but as a form of service rendered for the betterment of society at large.

If such a notion prevails among our workers, I am sure we will have an excellent work force in our nation.  Such a notion is conducive for our budding nation. Work is truly worship. 

More non-malay in civil service

I was rather amused to read ‘More non-Malays  joining civil service’ in the dailies. The Chairman of Public Service Commission (PSC) Tan Sri Mahmood Adam said more non-Malays are applying to join the civil service. It is an irony to say that the non-Malays are joining the civil service in recent times only.

In fact, there has always been interest among many non-malays to join the government, especially with the economic downturn in recent times. Thousands of non-Malays have applied all these years to join the civil service, whether the local government or the federal government. Their applications always do not receive attention as many of them were not even called for interviews by the PSC.The non-Malays were always the prominent civil servants since the nation achieved independence. This a fact that cannot be refuted by any quarters. 

If there is an increase of interest among the non-Malays, fine, it is a positive sign. Then, the interest should be reflected in the number of non-Malay staff employed in the government machinery. The increase in the recruitment of non-Malay staff should be in proportion with the Malay counterparts.

At times, when we drop in at any government departments or agencies, we are surprised to see that the entire population of the staff are of one race only. This contradicts the noble 1Malaysia concept promoted by our Prime Minister.  Such an imbalance situation does not augurs well with the philosophy of 1Malaysia concept.

Non-Malays should not only recruited for the lower ranks in the government but also at managerial positions as we see the higher positions are dominated by one community only. We need a balanced civil service in the government machinery.

We are all the citizens of the country irrespective of our racial background. I strongly disagree with the terms like non-Malay and Malay as these are obstacles to achieve solidarity and unity among Malaysians. We are one, like flowers of one garden and leaves of one branch. This is the strength of the nation. So let us benefit from this strength and not split hairs because of the diversity of nation’s multiracial population.

Work Ethics

Work ethics

Recently, there has been some dissatisfaction expressed by certain quarters about the exit policy included in the Public Service New Remuneration (SBPA).  They have expressed their reservation of the implementation of the policy. 

Firstly, I strongly concur with the exit policy that has been included in the SBPA. I think we should welcome the policy and it should not be withdrawn as urged by many quarters, especially by Cuepacs. 

For efficient and sound working of our public service, such a measure should be advocated. With the current extension of retirement to 60 years by the government recently, we are afraid that a sizeable number of civil servants will not be able to cope up with demands and needs of the civil service. As such, these civil servants will probably become dead wood. We cannot allow dead wood to be present in the civil service. If a civil servant is not able perform for three years consecutively, he or she should be prepared to leave the service and find employment elsewhere, as argued by the Public Service Commission. 

Every individual, no matter how handicapped and limited he or she may be, is under the obligation of engaging in his or her profession, for work, especially when performed in the spirit of service, is a form of worship. It has not only a utilitarian purpose, but has a value in itself, because it draws us nearer to God, and enables to better grasp His purpose for us in this world. It is obvious, therefore, that the inheritance of wealth cannot make anyone immune from daily work. If all civil servants hold to this principle of ‘Work is Worship’, I believe no civil servant will be asked to leave the service.

Therefore, I urge all quarters to support the move of the Public Service Division to go ahead with this exit policy in the SBPA. After all, such a move is to make our public service more competent and productive.