PM: Civil servants must explain policies, give constructive feedback

PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has called on civil servants to play a more active role in explaining government policies to the public, while also providing constructive feedback during departmental meetings.

He stressed that this was not merely about defending the government or the Cabinet, but about stating the facts and providing the people with a clearer understanding of issues.

“That is why I say that our colleagues, especially civil servants, must go to the ground and explain. It is not about defending the Prime Minister or the ministers, but about stating the facts.

“If there is feedback, or if there are certain matters that are unfavourable or need to be proposed, I have suggested from the very beginning that departmental meetings and gatherings should be used as a platform to share these views,” he said during an engagement session with Transport Ministry officials on Thursday (April 9).

Anwar said there were recent claims by a religious leader that oil prices only saw significant spikes in Malaysia.

“That is a very shallow and ignorant view. It does not help and instead, it is confusing,” he added.

At the same time, Anwar said departmental meetings should not be a one-way street where directives are simply handed down by department heads or secretaries-general.

Instead, he said space must be given for feedback from the lower ranks.

“This should not be a monologue by the (higher-ups). There must be room for bottom-up feedback. I have no objections if there are views on how to improve things,” he explained.

The Prime Minister emphasised that being open to the views of civil servants would help strengthen government policies and improve the effectiveness of public service delivery.

He added that civil servants are an essential machinery representing millions of families across the country.

“They are not there to cover up weaknesses. If there are weaknesses, highlight them properly with the intention of bringing about change,” he said.

However, Anwar cautioned civil servants against validating false information, urging them to act as a unified family.

“As I have suggested, we should not, as a family of civil servants, validate what is false, because the government is working to the best of its ability,” he added.