YOUR report “Government to name errant officers” (NST, 28 Nov) caught my attention and the first thought that came to my mind was the futility of this effort. By the time the names of convicted offenders are published, they might not be in service anymore. If they are offenders of minor cases that do not require them to be sacked, why bother to name them in the press?

It is time the government service came up with something more practical to deal with negligent, irresponsible and tardy employees, who are to be found in hordes in various departments.

May I suggest a special agency under the Prime Minister’s Department, possibly the one dealing with public complaints, be set up with wide powers to evaluate the efficiency of workers in every department?

They should concentrate on those departments receiving the most complaints.

This special agency must be staffed with officers of high moral integrity.

They must have authority over the heads of department, therefore, not subjected to the latter who tend to protect themselves, as any fault by their officers is a reflection of their own inability to control their staff.

This agency should be allowed to bypass all red tape in instituting disciplinary action against government servants.

Malaysia needs this agency to curb the rot in the civil service. So many attempts in the past to check poor services have failed. Even the Anti-Coruption Agency is limited in its scope. Maybe this internal “snoop squad” could work.

VICTOR CHEW, Ipoh

Source: NST – December 2, 2008