Bloated Malaysia Civil Service Presents Headache for Najib
- Public workforce large relative to other Asian peers
- Civil servants indispensable support base for Najib’s party
Malaysia's Prime Minister Najib Razak.
Photographer: Mohd Rasfan/AFP via Getty ImagesThis article is for subscribers only.
Malaysian Nor Mohamad loved her job with a major Western tech company. But she gave it up after two years, tired of bickering with her parents who felt she’d be better off in the public service.
“It’s boring but stable,” said the master’s degree holder, who is in her thirties and asked not to be fully identified, citing government policy. “Even though I’m not so in love with the job, I’m thankful that in this economic situation there’s no bad impact to my career.”