The Head Hunter

Yesterday I was at the GP's clinic to ask for a referral for my current asthmatic ailment, which only developed very recently. My close buddy called me on the mobile during the consultation and told him that I would return his call later and he obliged. Since the "head hunting" days of conducting interviews to recruit applicants to govt service a couple of years ago are over Datuk Ti asked me to dwell on this touchy subject. The reason I say that it's a touchy subject is plain and simple, my views are way above the other colleagues of ours who were just following the wind and whatever was given, just swallow them hook, line and sinker. The recruitment method in the public service was wholly based on the scheme of service which became the mould cast in granite, and no one could vary or modify it, least of all to disagree with it. Well that's the way things were and we were not supposed to question the scheme, It's some sort of unabridged copy of the specs for determining the qualifications and experience as well as other conditions that must be fulfilled even before the shortlisting are done. The methodology have not changed for a very long time. Only the forms keep on changing, whereby either you fill them up or they can be done online, the application for jobs in govt that is. So if we were to revise the scheme, it would be taboo, because that's some other people's domain and woe betide the person who tries to be smart. Even the tables and chairs used in the interviews cannot be changed without getting permission from the Head of Department where the interviews are conducted, or else one can be surcharged for unauthorised disposal of govt assets. In the five years we sat every monday mornings where the meetings to endorse the recommended candidates and to discuss other papers that were tabled (now done paperless, and every member is expected to have read all papers for discussion in a small computer disc) seemed somewhat meaningless because there were hardly any debate. Almost all, if not for a few who seemed to have a mini discussion beforehand either at the lounge where refreshments were always provided or even in the toilets, where dissent is almost nil. With such an atmosphere prevailing in the building which is occupied by the gatekeepers for people who are interested to become public servants, the mould had already turned to worse than granite, perhaps one day it would turn into precious stones where the mad scramble would not be for the jobs offered online, but the rubies, amethysts, zamruds,pearls and perhaps diamonds abound. Once we were directed to recruit outstanding graduates who were exiting their finals for the elite diplomatic service, and the tall order was get them fast, and find ways and means to cut short the process so that the govt would attract the best from the top universities of the world, where their worst would easily be our best when compared to their counterparts who came out from the mushrooming public and private universities. From my experience in conducting interviews, almost invariably we honed everything down to gut feeling after all the criteria are met. Whereas things have changed in many parts of the Commonwealth, where recruitment is done by appointed agents who specialised in head hunting, we still plod along the path which were travelled half a century ago. So it's an axiomatic truth that bad currency drives out the good ones. Candidates mostly who appeared in front of us were either rejects or recycled material who appeared before us more than twice sometimes. I had a candidate who had attended our interviews more than he could ever remembered, and when I pressed him further, he counted ten times! So how does one expects to recruit the promising ones coming out the production papermills here and abroad when the system we practised is outdated and obsolete. When I proposed to the Chairman that it's high time we sit with the people from PSD, Treasury and Wismaputra as to how best to carry out the Cabinet directive, it just fell on deaf ears! How frustrating and I remembered at one monday morning meeting, I simply walked out after letting off steam because no one dared to support me when I called for voting which was provided under the PSC regulations. The trouble is that those who are themselves doing the interviews are the have beens, "pensioners" who looked at the job as a pastime and not as a profession. No wonder what we get mostly into the public service today are mediocres and nincompoots, because the system does not kepp up with the demands of the times. So once a candidate who's competence is in doubt began his career in the public service, he remains as passenger for the rest of his working life until the mandatory age of retirement is reached. In the meantime, the garbage who were taken into service infected the whole govt machinery with bacteria and viruses of all hues. The gatekeepers like us are partly to blame for just keeping quiet and seldom allowed to question the system. As one famous dictum from a platoon commander who perished in the charge of the light brigade during the Boer Wars in South Africa, " Ours is not to question why, but to do and die", and sure enough many are brought down by this "Ba Ba Blacksheep Syndrome" where all they are good for is " Yes sir, yes sir, 3 bags full". I feel somewhat guilty for contributing to this state of affairs. But as the majority of the members were contented to collect their allowances at the end of the month and their conscience well intact, no one seemed to bother. But wait till you get unanswered queries and dumb dolls who are just good loafers in the prestigious buildings in Putrajaya managing the critical services for the people, then as always we just sit quietly and never compalain because it's all part of the racket where we once was. May ALLAH save this nation from being ruled by court jesters and fools who keep on singing the same song all over again to the satisfaction of their superiors who are only interested in counting the gold that fill their till instead of the govt coffers. I dont have to be apologetic Datuk Ti, since you asked for it.