Twenty people were awarded the Panglima Setia Mahkota (Tan Sri) in conjunction with the King’s 63rd. official birthday last Saturday.

Out of the 20 recipients, ten are top civil servants and Armed Forces personnel.

The new Tan Sris include Director-Generals of Public Service Department, Implementation Coordination Unit, Treasury, MITI, Internal Security Ministry and Health Ministry. Others are Deputy IGP, Army Chief, Navy Chief and Air Forces Chief.

I think it is inappropriate to confer to serving civil servants award that carries title that is higher than those received by the Prime Minister and Cabinet Ministers.

In the recent concluded Parliamentary session, several MPs called for reform in the civil services and many criticized the delivery system.

Many MPs felt that it is difficult for them to deal with top civil servants; many of the latter carried so many titles behind their names.

Even Ministers complained quietly that their D-Gs are more powerful than themselves.

How would civil servants with Tan Sri and Datuk Seri titles conduct themselves when dealing with politicians and ordinary rakyat?

I have no objection if civil servants are conferred such titles after they have retired from the government.