{
  "id": 5200104,
  "title": "Bila arah politik dan dasar berubah-ubah, birokrasi memilih jalan selamat",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/02/bila-arah-politik-dan-dasar-berubah-ubah-birokrasi-memilih-jalan-5200104",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-02T23:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/bahasa/pandangan/2026/09/03/bila-arah-politik-dan-dasar-berubah-ubah-birokrasi-memilih-jalan-selamat"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "As the political and foundational landscape continues to shift, the bureaucracy selects the path of safety. While many reforms are necessary and courageous, others announced and subsequently criticized, halted, or changed direction when facing political pressure, public reaction, and execution realities. Change in foundations is not necessarily a sign of weakness; it indicates that the government is sensitive and responsive to circumstances. However, when changes become too frequent and sometimes appear inconsistent, the question is not simply whether an issue is good or bad. This also greatly influences the bureaucracy tasked with implementing it. We desire civil servants to be more assertive, brave, and innovative. Yet, when political direction and foundations change frequently, the system sends conflicting signals, suggesting that one should not make decisions too hastily, as what is most important today may change tomorrow. This paradox initiates the reform movement: we desire the bureaucracy to be bolder, but its uncertainty can make it increasingly cautious. Historically, changes in foundations were often linked to changes in government or ministers. A new leadership brought new priorities, and old programs were revised. Today, however, the situation is more complex. In the same government, an issue can become important due to fiscal position, economic circumstances, public reaction, or current political pressure. Such changes are not necessarily bad. However, if the direction of foundations changes too frequently and too far, their impact does not stop at the political level; it shapes how the bureaucracy thinks, considers, and acts. For politics, change may only require one decision or announcement. For administration, a change in foundations can mean rescheduling budgets, procedures, contracts, systems, guidelines, key performance indicators, and reporting. If this situation persists, the bureaucracy begins to adopt a stance: it does not move too far, ensuring its direction is clear. Changes in foundations have a cost. We often see changes in foundations from the political perspective of whether the government wants to adapt to circumstances, meet public demands, or alter its stance. However, every change brings a budget cost. When directions change, agencies must reorganize their execution. What was once a priority may cause resources to be redirected from ongoing programs. Projects already in progress may be hindered when attention and administrative effort shift to other matters. This leads to what is called in foundation studies as the implementation gap -- the gap between what is decided and what ultimately gets implemented. Public and administrative scholars like Pressman and Wildavsky have long warned that the more organizations, decisions, and decision-making levels involved in a foundation, the greater the likelihood of its implementation becoming slow or limited to the original goals. Thus, announcing something firmly does not necessarily move as strongly at the implementation level. Some approved projects move slowly, and some change direction due to political considerations. Committed actions are made but remain unsolved. At the same time, new things continue to be added to the system. Ultimately, the problem is not a lack of foundations; it is that too much is started but too little is truly resolved. When change in direction becomes habitual, civil servants must adapt their actions. Experienced employees know that what is important today may not be considered important several months later. They also recognize that decisions made based on current guidance may be revised when political pressure changes. Christopher Hood explains this tendency through the concept of blame avoidance -- the tendency to avoid being blamed. When the risk of being questioned outweighs the reward for courage in making and implementing decisions, individuals and organizations have stronger reasons to choose the safest path. The issue can shift from \"How do we solve this problem?\" to \"How do we ensure this decision does not become a problem for us in the future?\" When changes in foundations and politics occur too frequently, the bureaucracy increasingly avoids risk. Ultimately, changes become harder, while existing situations become easier to maintain. Rather than bold, the bureaucracy becomes increasingly cautious. Finally, frequent changes in foundations can lead to reform fatigue -- a state where one agenda is completed, and another emerges. KPIs change, reporting increases, new authorities are created, and priorities shift according to current pressure. Civil servants will continue working. They still work, but their actions become more tactical. Meetings continue. Reports are prepared. New authorities are established. Priorities continue to shift according to current pressure. Civil servants will not stop working. They continue to work, but the space for strategic thinking among them becomes increasingly small. Finally, a very human attitude emerges, where they do what is immediately in front of them. This is one of the most concerning effects. An organization may look very busy but is actually becoming less strategic.",
  "summary": "Dasar memang perlu berubah apabila bukti baharu muncul, keadaan ekonomi berubah atau keperluan rakyat menuntut pendekatan berbeza. Tetapi ada perbezaan antara responsif dengan terlalu reaktif.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Bila arah politik dan dasar berubah-ubah, birokrasi memilih jalan selamat",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/02/bila-arah-politik-dan-dasar-berubah-ubah-birokrasi-memilih-jalan",
        "published": "2026-09-02T23:00:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}