I REFER to the report “Zaki:Two retired judges suspected to be corrupt” (NST, Nov 8) in which the chief justice was quoted as saying that to ensure efficiency, errant staff must be punished.

Hardworking staff member s who set newer benchmarks through higher levels of efficiency and productivity should be rewarded to reinforce and promote desirable work ethics. When heads of department fail to punish errant and under- performing staff, they help establish new standards of tolerance and permissive licence for under-performance and errant behaviour. This sends a strong message to efficient staff to adopt a more relaxed and inefficient pace of work. This swells the ranks of the ineff icient. Once the department head fails to take disciplinary action against even one errant, under- performing member, he loses the moral right to act against the hordes. Also, the majority who consider their chances of promotion slim are more likely to emulate the standard set by the under-performers rather than that of those who raise the benchmark.

M. GANESHADEVA, Kuala Lumpur

Source: NST – November 13, 2008