HAVE you ever wondered how a Malaysian minister’s mind works? I tried to understand it after reading news reports when the urban wellbeing, housing and local government minister, in a leaked letter, directed local council projects in non-Barisan Nasional (BN) parliamentary constituencies to be cancelled.

The directive applied to all BP.1 projects, categorised as small-scale people-centric projects in the respective local councils, including the building and repairing of roads, drains, public toilets, multi-purpose halls, and business premises. The warrants for budget allocation issued for the implementation of the projects were rescinded.

The minister said the government’s decision to scrap approvals for local council projects in non-BN parliamentary constituencies was due to insufficient funds and priority had to be given to constituencies that have been won by the BN coalition.

A day later, the minister said the government did not scrap approvals for local council projects but merely streamlined them in non-BN constituencies.

As usual, when the letter made the news and stirred up opposition from MPs and the public, the excuse given by the minister was that the letter was misunderstood. The minister also said it is possible that the officer who was tasked to prepare the letter misunderstood and misrepresented the contents.

The fact is that on one day, the decision made was due to insufficient funds and the next, it was merely to streamline them in non-Barisan Nasional parliamentary constituencies. So which is it? Both, or maybe neither?

Since Prime Minister Najib Razak believes in “People First”, I humbly request him, as the boss, to review the decision made to cancel the BP1 projects in non-Barisan Nasional (BN) parliamentary constituencies.

While making the review, it will be good for him to offer some advice to the minister on the role of a minister and how to treat civil servants. To help him with the advice, I list down a few words from our Bapa Pembangunan which happens to be his father.

1. “...the civil servant is a servant of our Agong… civil servants continue in office even though there may be a change of government… the civil service must be impartial and free from political influence”;

2. “...Civil servants are independent and must express their views to the fact that even if the facts may be unpalatable to the minister. It is the duty of the officials to put the facts before him and the officials will fail in their duty if they try to bring submission of a case if they know or suspect it to contain a different political point of view”;

3. “...there is a principle of the ministerial responsibility or the rule of anonymity in the civil service, the minister is responsible to Parliament for the act of the civil servants under him, and he cannot free himself of the blame of his officials. This principle is necessary if the system of parliamentary democracy is to work smoothly” and

4. “...No minister can defend himself by blaming his officials”.

The late Abdul Razak knew the boundary between the civil servants and politicians. To him, success in the implementation of development projects was a function of a leadership with the right attitude and dedication.

Enough said. Now tell me whether you understand how a minister’s mind works.

* Saleh Mohammed is a The Malaysian Insight reader.

* 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.