Should civil servants prioritise loyalty to the country over political leaders?

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Civil Servants Must Prioritise National Welfare Over Political Allegiances

Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has articulated that the primary commitment of the civil service must be to the welfare of the nation, superseding any allegiance to political leaders or parties. Civil servants are urged to direct their trust and loyalty towards those individuals and political entities that demonstrably contribute to the country's growth and development, rather than offering automatic deference based solely on position or tenure.
Loyalty Should Be Earned Through National Contribution

Dr Mahathir emphasized that positions within the government or political structures should not inherently command unwavering faith. Instead, loyalty should be conditional upon the achievements and positive contributions of leaders and their parties towards the nation. If leaders or a political party have demonstrably brought significant achievements to the country, then allegiance to them is justifiable.
Refocusing Loyalty When Leaders Err

However, the Prime Minister was clear that this allegiance must be re-evaluated if leaders or parties engage in wrongdoing or fail in their duties. Even in cases of long-standing association, such as 61 years, loyalty must be redirected towards the nation if the leadership falters. This principle underscores the importance of accountability and ethical conduct in governance.
Avoiding Obsession with Ineffective Parties

The civil service is advised against remaining fixated on parties and leaders who do not genuinely serve the country's best interests. This guidance, seemingly a veiled reference to past political administrations, encourages a focus on forward-looking governance that prioritises national progress over entrenched, potentially detrimental, political loyalties.
The Primacy of National Loyalty in a Democracy

In a democratic system, citizens have the prerogative to support the political parties of their choice to lead the government. While loyalty to a particular party and its leader is a natural consequence of this system, Dr Mahathir reiterated that the ultimate and paramount loyalty for civil servants must always be towards the country itself.

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Should civil servants prioritise loyalty to the country over political leaders?

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