Public servants must have heart to serve, says official

By LORRAINE JAMAL
PEOPLE wanting to join the public service need to put service as a priority ahead of lucrative packages and privileges, an official says.
Department of Personnel Management executive manager policy research Aida Yuki said applicants must show a commitment to serve. “If you want to come and work in the public service, you do not look for packages but to serve the people,” she said.
“And when you walk in, you come in with that attitude.
“We don’t want people who expect big packages or claims.
“This is not a place for you.”
She said the priority was to instil in people the right approach to public service.
“(The) public service is not going to be (just) another employer.
“We want to make it a competitive employer. And it’s an employer by choice,” Yaku said.
The department is planning to engage fresh university graduates at district level to understand the struggle faced by the people.
And when they come up to the policy-making level, they are in a good position to make the appropriate policy, she said.
She suggested that 70 per cent of public servants should be working in districts to coordinate inspect, facilitate, monitor services, and report back to their departments.