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©The Sun (Used by permission)
by Terence Fernandez

A LETTER from a legal firm requesting for a meeting to discuss a joint venture project with the general manager of the Selangor Foundation (Yayasan Selangor) last month elicited a strongly-worded response. The Selangor Foundation letter was signed by its new general manager Ilham Marzuki.

One does not want to get into the nitty-gritty of the deal but if anything, the letter is a damning piece of evidence of the high-handed attitude of some of those in the state civil service and how they deal with the private sector. Judging from the letter’s tone and language used, the likes of Ilham and others who make up the management of Yayasan Selangor have no clue about the use of decorum and language of business and official correspondence. A shame really since the mentri besar was a renowned corporate figure.

For one, Ilham took offence that its joint venture partner had said that Ilham and officials of Yayasan Selangor were not responding to calls and messages.

This, I too find hard to believe because in a multi-million ringgit venture, one is sure that handphone numbers would have been exchanged.

Even so, is it becoming of a state agency to use coarse language when dealing with investors, where in this instance Ilham accuses them of making false and embarrassing charges?

But what takes the cake is that Ilham wrote that he was offended because the joint venture partners did not call on him when he took over as general manager on April 15. This I have an issue with as it reflects the feudalistic mentality of many of those on the taxpayers’ payroll. Ilham perhaps felt snubbed and regarded the joint venture partner’s omission of calling on him when he took over as "biadap" (rude) and regrettable, among others.

If this is how the powers that be in a state agency can deal with a business partner what more the general public? It is a given that some of those in service regard the public as a nuisance, especially when it comes to complaints and delivery of service.

What is even more disturbing is that the letter was copied to Mentri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim – indicating that Ilham seriously does not feel that there is anything wrong in dealing with an investor in such a high handed manner. This attitude is symptomatic with Little Napoleons who run their own little kingdoms as they deem fit. It is perhaps a damning indictment of the state of affairs in Selangor’s subsidiaries and agencies.

If the rules on low-cost housing ownership can be bent, in the case of local councils and the State Housing and Property Board, or reward themselves for work not done as was the case with sand mining subsidiary Kumpulan Semesta Sdn Bhd, then there is something gravely wrong in how Selangor is being managed.

The mentri besar has the option to remove deadwood and those detrimental to the state’s progress, but he has decided not to take action. As in the case of Kumpulan Semesta, he passed the buck back to the company to determine a managerial change.

Perhaps he keeps all those who worked hand-in-glove with previous state administrators there to answer for sins of the past; but if they are allowed to operate with the same impunity that they did with their previous political masters, whether Selangor is governed by the current or previous people will not make a difference to the rakyat. Maybe again, it is better to go with the devil you know. At least you know what you’re gonna get.

Terence says the public service should be weeded of those who work against the people’s interest Feedback: terence@thesundaily.com