Media statement by Lim Kit Siang in Petaling Jaya on Thursday, 22^nd July 2010: 

Chief Secretary Sidek himself guilty of being "excessive" in taking sides instead of reprimanding Nik Ali for doubly violating civil service code in appearing at Umno press conference to attack Penang Chief Minister as "biadap" (insolent or uncivilized) and "dayus" (coward)

It was only on Tuesday that the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said that there is no place for little Napoleons in the public service who do not understand the importance of innovation if the Government Transformation Programme is to succeed.

It is regrettable however that when Little Napoleons rear their ugly heads, they are given full defence and support instead of being reprimanded and put in their proper place.

The latest example of support for Little Napoleons instead of smacking them down is the Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan's defence of the Penang State Development Officer Nik Ali Nik Yunus for the latter's attack on the Penang Chief Minister, Lim Guan Eng. Sidek said Guan Eng's allegations against Nik Ali was "excessive".

It is Sidek who is guilty of being "excessive" in taking sides instead of reprimanding Nik Ali for doubly violating the civil service code of being strictly non-partisan, non-political and civil by appearing at an UMNO press conference to attack the Penang Chief Minister as "biadap" (insolent or uncivilized) and "dayus" (coward).

What is most shocking is that no Cabinet Minister appeared outraged and all seemed to have sanctioned the "Little Napoleonic" conduct of Nik Ali.

Is there not a single Cabinet Minister - whether Umno, MCA, Gerakan, MIC or Sabah/Sarawak Barisan Nasional component parties – who dare to speak up against "Little Napoleons" in the public service of the Nik Ali genre just because of UMNO patronage?

The Government Transformation Programme is one of the four pillars of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s national transformation programme to propel Malaysia out of the two-decade middle-income trap to an inclusive, sustainable, high-income advanced nation.

However, if Little Napoleons like Nik Ali are allowed with impunity to show utter contempt for elected representatives and even an elected state government in open disregard of the civil service code to be politically neutral, impartial and civil, then this pillar of Najib’s national transformation programme is being torn to shreds and smithereens, losing all public credibility and legitimacy.

*Lim Kit Siang, DAP Parliamentary Leader & MP for Ipoh Timor