Prime Minister’s Department – more staff than European Union’s bureaucracy?

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Photograph: Wikipedia

Those behind the Brexit vote often painted the bureaucracy of the European Union as bloated.

So let’s take a look at the EU staffing headcount: 32,900. According to Malaysia’s former head of mission there in the 1990s, these EU civil servants responsible for 28 nations were of the highest quality.

How does this compare with Najib Razak’s Prime Minister’s Department? Well, the last figure I could find was reported in Utusan in 2010. Headcount: 43,544. (What is the figure now?)

If this figure is anywhere close to the present situation, then we seriously need to look at the rationale for so many staff to be concentrated in the prime minister’s department. The 2016 budget for the department? RM20.3bn!

Of course, there are many sub-departments, sections and units under the prime minister’s department? But why do they all have to fall under the prime minister’s department? Isn’t this an over-concentration of power, not only in the hands of the federal government, not only in the hands of the executive/cabinet, but in the hands of the prime minister?

Read Renji Sathiah’s full article on Brexit.

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LSS
LSS
8 Jul 2016 9.38pm

The big number of staff is due to the practise of lumping all sorts of agencies under the PMD’s budget. Heck.. even ESSCOM is included in here. Certainly not comparable to the European Union. The PM Department has many different units under it. It is not just Najib alone lah. For the operating budget (operating budget includes CAPEX an OPEX for existing operations) the PMD (as opposed to PMO) was allocated RM9 billion and for development budget it is RM13 billion. The budget is allocated here so it can be centrally controlled at the PMO level. Much of the budget… Read more »

David Loman
David Loman
9 Jul 2016 10.50am
Reply to  Anil Netto

More opportunity to practise ‘I Help You, You Help Me’ ?

glissantia
glissantia
9 Jul 2016 1.49pm
Reply to  LSS

What does Judicial Appointments Commission do most of the time? What is the difference between these and what are their budgets? – Agensi Inovasi Malaysia – Unit Inovasi Khas What is the difference between these (which should be under Home Affairs)? – Chief Government Security Office – Protection Division Why are these dept. here and not under other ministries? – Land Public Transport Commission (which handles MRT and LRT) – not under Transport – Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency and Eastern Sabah Security Command – not under Defence – National Audit Department – not under Finance – Mahkamah Syariah Wilayah Persekutuan,… Read more »

Jimmy Snuka
Jimmy Snuka
9 Jul 2016 4.50pm
Reply to  LSS

I think many functions have overlapping responsibilities and could be streamlined or combined to achieve better efficiency and productivity, with reduced headcount to cut cost. But it will take a strong political will.

zoro
zoro
9 Jul 2016 8.51pm
Reply to  LSS

centralisation. more power, no mp can ask questions and more $¥£€. see the expenditure. result taxpayers havd to pap.

Anak Mami Nasi Kandaq
Anak Mami Nasi Kandaq
8 Jul 2016 11.55am

Latest Dasha Logan (daughter of Alleycats) update. Anilnetto.com first intrduced her to many.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZm5SQlGGJM

Anak Mami Nasi Kandaq
Anak Mami Nasi Kandaq
8 Jul 2016 11.46am

The “talented” kids from Permata [may] soon be absorbed under PM de;pt headcount per Rosmah’s wish the hubby cannot deny.

Zooney
Zooney
8 Jul 2016 10.34am

udah2 le pengundi2 semua.selamatkan negara ini dari terus hancur binase beban hutang dah rm 800 billion engkau tahu tak?aset2 negare2 byk tergadai,simpanan kwsp sosco korang pun bn umno rembat ok lagi dgn gst 6 peratus lagi mau undi bn umno yg rasuah tuka?pikir tentang anak cucu cicit kau jgk bukan tentang diri kau ja.lawan tetap lawan,ALLAH HU AKHBAR

ST Lim
ST Lim
8 Jul 2016 9.52am

Husni’s resignation to do with 1MDB despite denial ? Sarawak Report published more revelation yesterday if you can access to it.

din ambrose
din ambrose
11 Jul 2016 1.23pm
Reply to  ST Lim

He knew the truth from the expose from Sarawak Report. Better leave now b4 getting implicated.

Hacket
Hacket
26 Jul 2016 7.15pm
Reply to  din ambrose

I think he quit ahead of the DOJ’s revelation in order not to be implicated.

glissantia
glissantia
7 Jul 2016 1.57pm

The poisonous fruits of feudalism, “exceptionalism”, greed and the populist path of least resistance include these: – Intake whenever the economy or govt. income improves a little. A gigantic PM’s dept. with about 15 ministers and dy. ministers. – Regular increments of pay across the board, regardless of performance. – Little work done except under overtime, a campaign, “task force”, project, etc. Chief Justice Arifin Zakaria stated (in MMO, 8/1/15) that even judges play truant. – Multiple, overlapping, departments for planning, coordination, training and productivity. About a decade ago, the public even paid for a propaganda song on productivity. In… Read more »

David Loman
David Loman
7 Jul 2016 11.34am

South China a Morning Post: A scandal that may well rank as Malaysia’s biggest has not dented the political fortunes of Prime Minister Najib Razak. His Barisan Nasional ruling coalition easily won two by-elections last month and a state poll in May, prompting a cabinet reshuffle and a fresh crackdown on critics. A prominent opposition figure has been arrested on graft charges and a new investigation launched against vocal detractor and former leader Mahathir Mohammad. The moves strengthen Najib’s position ahead of the 2018 national elections, but are also threatening the country’s racial and religious harmony and the possibility of… Read more »

Jive
Jive
6 Jul 2016 4.50pm

http://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/chinese-firms-dangle-lifeline-for-1mdb-src

China to buy Air Itam land, giving lifeline to cash trapped 1MDB!

gk ong
gk ong
8 Jul 2016 3.58pm
Reply to  Jive

China developers to build homes for China nationals taking up My2ndHome in Penang?
Or maybe Gerakan can grant them instant blue IC to vote for BN?

Jive
Jive
9 Jul 2016 10.26am
Reply to  gk ong

MCA Gelakan should be open minded to allow China nationals to come here as domestic helpers,and in a way provide opportunities for young Penangites to hook up with them as they are less demanding than local girls now more tuned to expensive condos as primary prerequisite for marriage.

lim
lim
6 Jul 2016 11.11am

What i do know is, 1pm made malaysia into belacan since he came to power, unsolved murders, billions missing, throwing opposition heads into jail etc etc etc. Anyway, i find solace in tunglang, he is no longer intoxicated by his kopi o kau kau unlike Ah Soon, i shall say no more about the latter. And for tunglang, i say a big thank you for speaking up against injustices ! PS guan eng is not perfect, we are all fallen beings, do criticise him by all means but in the constructive ways, in order to improve penang for all. Just… Read more »

Jive
Jive
6 Jul 2016 4.53pm
Reply to  Anil Netto

Find solace in tunglang, what a tribute! Tunglang may go Pulau Tikus to have a kopi maaf zahir batin session with Lim before he returns to SP or somewhere.

lim
lim
7 Jul 2016 2.29pm
Reply to  Jive

Jive, you want come along ? He he

All of you should belanja Anil kopi o kau kau la, good one i mean !!!

Jive
Jive
7 Jul 2016 9.39pm
Reply to  lim

I drink wine at pub but abstain now for fear of IS strike.

So don’t mind we drink kopi, Anil any good suggestion?

Jive
Jive
8 Jul 2016 8.35am
Reply to  lim

So Anil and Lim we let the kopi maestro to pick one, probably not the one at Lorong Susu? 🙂

Peace on earth…..

lim
lim
8 Jul 2016 12.19pm
Reply to  lim

Jive, take Anil for kopi la, invite tunglang to come along as well and zoro, i wish i can join you guys but for some reasons, i really cant make it, not convenient at all for me, thks for understanding. A big kamsia.

When you all meet, enjoy your kopi o kau kau but please dont fight, esp tunglang and zoro, be gentlemen, ok. Thks again !

Andrew Lau
5 Jul 2016 9.43pm

Not sure to laugh or to be proud of our PM

zoro
zoro
5 Jul 2016 9.13pm

just throw a stone chances of hitting gomen tuan is high. no wonder chances of winning election is high.

John D Weatherley
5 Jul 2016 7.13pm

Now you know where all the missing funds are going?

Jude Manickam
5 Jul 2016 9.41am

A lot of work or sleeping on the job?

gk ong
gk ong
6 Jul 2016 1.06pm
Reply to  Jude Manickam

Many are surfing FB while being paid on working hours. Anyway the Union has proclaimed that the workers are entitled to sleep when tired (from internet fatigue?)

Imagine how many unemployed local graduates if they are not absorbed by PMO?

Also do not forget those fulltime Umno cybertroopers prowling the internet (eg.the analyzer on Msiakini).

zoro
zoro
5 Jul 2016 8.24am

why worry? be end mp said once we paid taxes the money brlongs to gomen. they can do as thry like. tax money no longer belongs to rakyat

Jason
Jason
5 Jul 2016 1.17am

This is politics. Without doing so, who will take care of the malays and where the votes going to come from? Too bad we are living in a country where the majority .. are mostly lazy and ineffective in their work. If you care about being Malaysian, learn to live with it or change the government (which is almost impossible).

tunglang
tunglang
5 Jul 2016 9.00am
Reply to  Jason

The best one can do to stay competitive or employable in the increasingly competitive labor market is not to get infected by this malaise (sickness) work culture. Only then can one be ‘mobile’ @ work + can emigrate if the rots get any worse. Loyalty to country or political party takes last in the sensible minds of those who ‘Chi Kei Ku Chi Kei’ in the 21st century of globalisation.

ST Lim
ST Lim
5 Jul 2016 2.35pm
Reply to  Anil Netto

translation : take good care of own back side

Johan Khun Pana
Johan Khun Pana
7 Jul 2016 9.05pm
Reply to  Anil Netto

It is Cantonese version.
2 meanings – You are on your own or mind your own business
*Please provide written Chinese characters when quoting Chinese proverbs.
As somehow this just cannot be “pinyin”
It is hard enough to distinguish which is Mandarin , Fukien , Cantonese and some even uses Hakka phonetically.

tunglang
tunglang
9 Jul 2016 12.25am
Reply to  Anil Netto

‘Chi Kei Ku Chi Kei’ is a Cantonese saying for self preservation i.e. take care of your own survival – welfare, safety, career or rice bowl, family, financial, prosperity, & if you might want to add, cultural preservation in a wider societal context.
It can also mean ‘mind your own business’ if spoken in an advisory caution.
Here, I meant the former one for own survival & sustainability in Malaysia Boleh.

Is there a proper pinyin for Cantonese?

Kapchai Orimaestro
Kapchai Orimaestro
4 Jul 2016 11.38pm

1.6 million gomen civilians, kerajaan prihatin a government that cares despite alledgely many still sleeping on the jobs only the western work can envy our work ethics, bolehland truly boleh!

XiaoBee
XiaoBee
16 Jul 2016 12.57pm

Many redundant workers in the bloated government sectors.
Down the road the tax payers have to foot the bill for their medical bills, pension…. Likely in the form of higher GST rate.

tunglang
tunglang
4 Jul 2016 9.38pm

43,544 civil servants! Ready vote bank in Putrajaya?
Possible job roles:
One for photostatting.
One for rubber stamping.
One for printing (from Epson printers?).
One for answering the phone.
One for internal document courier between departments.
One for switching on all aircons, lights, photostat machines, Epson? printers, shredders, water dispensers, etc.
One for reading anilnetto.com comments.
One for … the list can go on & on & on until the last count!.

Kapchai Orimaestro
Kapchai Orimaestro
5 Jul 2016 12.15am
Reply to  tunglang

One for brewing kopi o for sembang breaks

zoro
zoro
4 Jul 2016 9.26pm

how small and little is 43.5k? bigger than all the stadiums in malaysia. excuse to built a 60 to 80k capaciy. bigger than uncle sam pentagon.