Speaking at the sidelines of an event here today, Ahmad Sarji Abdul Hamid said he agreed with Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s decision to axe ambassadors and high commissioners who were political appointees from the Barisan Nasional (BN) era.

“I believe the government has its reasons, perhaps it found those appointed don’t have a specific task or that their continued presence affected the integrity of the civil service,” he told FMT after the Nestle Omega Plus Walk A Mile 2018 event at the Lake Gardens.

Ahmad Sarji served as chief secretary to the government during Mahathir’s first tenure as prime minister in the 1990s.

Last week, it was reported that several ambassadors and high commissioners had their services terminated with immediate effect and that from now on, the government will appoint ambassadors and high commissioners from among civil servants.

Ahmad Sarji said he backed the idea of having an act to improve the process of promotions within the civil service, especially for top posts.

“The process of being promoted should be more transparent and based on more objective criteria.”

He also said he supported the government’s move to change the status and name of the Public Complaints Bureau to the Ombudsman Malaysia.

He said the independent body would be able to better manage public complaints.

Ahmad Sarji said the idea had been mooted while he was still in service.

“It’s a good idea, if you look at countries like Sweden, New Zealand and Australia, they already have such bodies.”

Ahmad Sarji also reminded civil servants to remain neutral in their actions and not involve themselves in political activities.