TRANSFORMATION PLAN: Civil servants need new esprit de corps

2009/11/09

HALIMAH MOHD SAID, Kuala Lumpur

IF all federal ministers and state ministers are like Datuk Seri Idris Jala, the new minister in the Prime Minister's Department, the government would be transformed and through it all the relevant cogs in the nation's wheel, including those of the private sector.

There's no doubt that the efficiency of the public sector has a direct bearing on the efficiency of the business and commercial sectors.

The philosophy, ethics and principles of best practice and good governance adopted by the government influence what goes on in other sectors, their effects being greatly inter-related and largely reciprocal.

Idris, together with Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon, are tasked with the responsibility of drawing up a roadmap for the government transformation programme (GTP).

Under this initiative lies the working mechanisms for the key performance indicators and national key result areas (KRAs), the two initiatives announced by the prime minister to ensure the country achieves developed nation status in 2020 and meets the national goal of being innovative in all sectors.

One could say that the GTP is a bid to come up with a national philosophy goal that will define Datuk Seri Najib Razak's premiership, just as Vision 2020 has done for Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

When fully executed, the GTP holds the promise of a national legacy worthy of a smart and dynamic leader leading his country to greater heights of development.

Three weeks ago, at the Malaysian Australian Business Council's annual dinner, corporate and business representatives from both countries listened to Idris detailing his team's efforts.

It was refreshing to see a minister present his work in a Powerpoint presentation.

What was unfolded by Idris were the workings of the eight laboratories established to brainstorm the best ways to achieve the six KRAs identified by Najib.

Two hundred government officers have been required to come up with solutions to the nation's woes. The labs represent a bid to spearhead and coordinate the work of all ministries under one roof.

Idris said next month, the public, media, non-governmental organisations and civil servants would be invited to view the results and products of the labs and they could their feedback.

Early next year, the grand master plan will be available for public scrutiny.

Only then will the people see how the GTP complements other government initiatives, like the new fiscal and economic measures, the anti-corruption and crime reduction drives, and the education and welfare programmes.

What Idris is doing is to motivate, inspire and activate mechanisms and personnel.

What we hope he will also do is inject a new esprit de corps into civil servants.