PUTRAJAYA, July 9 (Bernama) –- It is imperative for civil servants to be
more creative and innovative to meet the people''s expectations which are
becoming more complex and varied, urged Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun
Razak.
He described the civil service as the pillar on which the country''s policies
were implemented, in order to achieve a high-income developed nation status by
2020.
The current environment was a far cry from a time not too long ago and it
demanded solid cooperation and commitment from every level of the
administration, he emphasised.
"We''re faced with Malaysians who have hopes and expectations which are not
like before, and these changes are a result of our having provided wide access
and increasing opportunities for education. It may also be a case of too much
exposure to information," he said during a speech at the Civil Service Perdana
Dialogue.
As people tasked with the administration, civil servants have no other
choice but to be ramped up to deliver more effective and faster service.
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Meanwhile, the Prime Minister said Malaysia should be grateful, as the
economic environment in Europe was uncertain, which was not the case here.
"Everywhere the Deputy Prime Minister (Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin) and I go,
additional allocations are requested," he said, adding the construction sector
kept growing and showed no signs of slowing down.
"But we must be realistic. For example, we need foreign investments and if
there''s a global economic crisis the pipeline for new investments will dry up,"
he said.
Najib said despite Malaysia''s many successes, the nation had a long way to
go and he believed civil servants still had room for improvement, which he felt
should be a multiple-leap change.
He added that this was the reason for his constant urging and challenges,
including towards himself, to come up with more creative and innovative ideas to
bring about real improvement and not just conduct ''business as usual''.
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Najib elaborated that while at one time priorities were basic needs such as
roads, water and electricity supply, now demands were more varied including
prevention of crime, freedom, better services and so on.
He went on to say, as the government, the administration cannot offer mere
rhetorics but provide clear and tangible assistance to its people such as
1Malaysia People''s Aid (BR1M), 1Malaysia People''s Shop (KR1M), 1Malaysia Clinic
and many others.
He added that at the same time the government could not spend unwisely but
do so on a careful budget.
"If we want to increase spending, we need to create wealth first," he said.
More than 500 civil servants nationwide attended the dialogue organised by
the Razak School of Government, Civil Service Department and Prime Minister''s
Department.
The dialogue was aimed at providing a platform to ensure the Malaysian civil
service becomes the forefront for the rapid transformation taking place
presently.
Also present at the dialogue were Muhyiddin and chief secretary to the
government Datuk Seri Dr Ali Hamsa.
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