GOVERNMENT agencies are and should be seen as extensions of a democratically elected administration of the day.

As such, their actions and practices should reflect the ideals and policies of that administration.

At the heart of everything the civil service does, therefore, should run a common thread of a bigger vision of the present government.

While fulfilling their day-to-day tasks, they should take a second look to ensure their works form stepping stones and building blocks to fulfil the greater vision of the government – be it  1Malaysia, Islam Hadhari, Wawasan 2020 or Makmur Bersama.

To ignore, overrule, bypass and sidestep it would be a betrayal of that government and of the people who elected that government, and whose tax dollars fund the civil service.

Yet today, we see mixed signals from government agencies, servants and GLCs that appear half-willing or almost forced to execute their bosses’ wishes.

Campaigns launched like those against anti-plastic imports, those discouraging smoking, implementation of smart travel cards, promotion of TVET, adoption of Industry 4.0 standards, and so on, appear to be sluggish and heavily dependent on politician’s nudges and prods to take shape.

Policies of the government, such as the promise of openness, transparency and promotion of certain civil liberties, appear to go unheeded with enforcement agencies still behaving as if it were there has been no policy shift since May last year.

In some cases, these same policy changes are used as an excuse to promote agendas not necessarily aligned to the government.

What should be encouraged is debate, discussions and alternative viewpoints and for allowing the policy to mature and evolve, taking into account public sentiment and opinion.

What should not be allowed is a concerted campaign to ridicule or destroy a policy that hasn’t had a chance to be scrutinised by the public and before it has been weighed on its proper merits.

Many of these are, after all, electoral promises, and it is not like the people did not know what they were voting for.

These days too, it appears, ministers and sometimes, even the prime minister himself needs to intervene to ensure the actual will of the government (and people) is done.

With a presence in even the smallest kampung, if properly guided, its many agencies is probably the best and most powerful tool at any government’s disposal.

Disseminating important information about the government’s economic and social plans, building trust between the administration and the administrated, gathering feedback, and ensuring smooth delivery of aid are just some of the tangible benefits derivable from a strong working relationship between agencies – with each other – and with their federal funders.

What they need is a strong rallying point, a brand and slogan to get behind, and a clear vision to move toward.

Which the present government can’t seem to agree on, at least not publicly.

With a proper definition of what Malaysia Baharu is still anyone’s guess, or in some cases, parts of it even still up for grabs, the civil service and rakyat alike have been sent mixed signals as to whether there is even going to be any change, or where there is, how much, and if those changes are final.

Until these are defined clearly, the opposition will continue to use both the confusion with the civil service, their uncertainty and loyal old appointees within their ranks to waylay any programme, no matter how good, the new administration comes up with.

This makes the government not only look foolish but weak, simultaneously casting doubt on its ability to govern and cementing the depressing idea that a corrupt former regime is a better choice than a clean but naive one.

It is your government machinery Pakatan Harapan, don’t let it be used to defeat you.

Selamat Hari Raya and Maaf Zahir Batin to all readers. – June 5, 2019.

* Emmanuel Joseph firmly believes that Klang is the best place on Earth, and that motivated people can do far more good than any leader with motive.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.