‘Larger reforms’ to civil service? Another NATO or hot air talk?

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‘Larger reforms’ to civil service? Another NATO or hot air talk?

 KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 2, 2024: Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim says “larger reforms” are to be carried out on the civil service this month.

“Reforms involving the consolidating of government departments and agencies remain at an unsatisfactory level,”  he added.

Malaysians will be waiting with bated breath to see whether this is another NATO (No Action Talk Only) or hot air talk by Anwar.

Let’s see whether civil servants start spending precious time on productive work or “policing” what individuals can or cannot wear.

No News Is Bad News reproduces below a news report on what Anwar told civil servants at a monthly assembly today:

‘Larger reforms’ to be carried out from this month, says Anwar

Nora Mahpar

-02 Sep 2024, 10:04 AM

The prime minister says reforms involving the consolidating of government departments and agencies remain at an unsatisfactory level.

Anwar Ibrahim addressing the monthly assembly at the Prime Minister’s Department. Flanking him are deputy prime ministers Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (left) and Fadillah Yusof. (Bernama pic)

PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said large-scale reforms involving government departments and agencies will be carried out this month.

He said he would soon meet with chief secretary to the government Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar and director-general of the public services department Wan Ahmad Dahlan Abdul Aziz to develop a strategy for improving the performance of the public service.

This is being taken after it was found that reforms involving the consolidating of government departments and agencies remained at an unsatisfactory level as the issue of overlapping positions has not been addressed.

Reports from department heads, directors-general and unit chiefs regarding the negligence of certain officers have also not been satisfactorily dealt with, he said during the monthly assembly at the Prime Minister’s Department this morning.

You can expect that this month will be a month of transformation … larger reforms … and I will discuss with Shamsul Azri and Wan Ahmad Dahlan the steps that need to be taken to improve, he said.

Meanwhile, Anwar, who is also the finance minister, urged all public servants to give Shamsul, who was appointed chief secretary to the government on Aug 12, their full cooperation.

He said this was key to ensuring that the reforms the government has planned can be rolled out in a smooth and effective manner.

He also called on government agencies to respond to public complaints faster.

There are several procedural steps that must be followed, he said.

If the current procedures are good, we should continue with them. If improvements are needed, we should adapt and focus on that.