The Malaysian Insight

A FLURRY of transfers involving secretaries-general from various ministries are afoot, as Pakatan Harapan tries to deal with problems caused by an alleged “deep state” within the civil service, sources said.

Sources from different ministries said there are at least eight transfers to be made by year-end, as the government starts to look more closely into claims of sabotage in various ministries.

This is the first major reshuffle in 18 months since PH took over the federal government and is taking place as revelations surface about decisions on projects or tenders executed without ministers’ knowledge.

Among them is a RM1.4 billion contract to supply fertiliser to padi farmers by the Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Ministry.

The contract was allegedly awarded to a company through open tender but has now been retracted, purportedly after minister Salahuddin Ayub wrote a letter of support to the prime minister pitching for the National Farmers’ Organisation (Nafas).

However, Salahuddin has denied any wrongdoing as the contract is yet to be issued by the Finance Ministry.

A member from Salahuddin’s party, Amanah, said a senior civil servant has sabotaged the minister over the contract.

Sources also said the matter of senior civil servants sabotaging other ministers has been raised in cabinet meetings, where problems, such as leaks of official correspondence, were discussed.

As such, a few ministers have asked that their secretary-general or those in senior posts be transferred out.

Eight of the ministries affected, according to sources, are Agriculture and Agro-based Industry, Rural and Regional Development; Tourism, Arts and Culture; Human Resources; Education; Communications and Multimedia; Works; and Entrepreneur Development.

“There may be more, as there are demands for the dismissal of some officials,” one source told The Malaysian Insight.

On Monday, The Malaysian Insight learnt of the movements of four top ministry officials, including the Agriculture Ministry’s secretary-general Mohd Sallehhuddin Hassan, to the Public Service Department pool.

Two others transferred were director-general of Primary Industries Dr Tan Yew Chong, also back to the PSD, and Tourism Ministry secretary-general Isham Ishak to the Transport Ministry.

One movement was an elevation, involving Home Ministry deputy secretary-general Jamil Rakon, who was promoted to secretary-general at the same ministry.

Transfers back to the PSD pool meant that new posts for the transferred individuals have yet to be decided, a source said. They will continue receiving their salaries but not the allowances that come with a post.

The existence of a “deep state” within the civil service has been mentioned by a few ministers but it remains unclear if it is an organised, secret body or individual civil servants who are pro-Barisan Nasional or who have yet to adjust to working under the new government.

Deputy Prime Minister Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail has told civil servants they are free to have their own political stance but must not sabotage the government. – November 27, 2019.