Silalahi criticizes officials

Silalahi criticizes officials

JAKARTA (JP): State Minister of Administrative Reform T.B.
Silalahi upbraided "arrogant" public servants for poor service
standards and demanding they be served by people.

Addressing a training session for high-ranking officials
yesterday, Silalahi said public service received wide attention.
"And I see there are more arrogant officials than those that can
be called real officials," he was quoted by Antara as saying.

"There are many public servants who, instead of serving the
public, demand that people cater to their wishes," he told 24
second echelon officers from various government agencies.

He said the officials' attitude harked back to the Dutch
colonial era when officials demanded that they be served.

"This (attitude persists) despite President Soeharto's
constant reminders that it is the duty of the state apparatus to
serve, not to ask to be served," he said.

Silalahi conceded that cultural change is proceeding slowly.
It would take a long time before public servants realize their
duty is to serve, he pointed out.

He did not name names or mention any numbers, but he said such
civil servants were "everywhere." Unless they changed their
attitude, he said, the civil servants would not be any different
"from the hooligans in Grogol or Blok M whose presence annoys the
public." (swe)