PUTRAJAYA: Mid-level administrative and diplomatic (PTD) officers must be given more chances to improve their skills to prepare them to take over top positions, Datuk Seri Najib Razak said today.
The prime minister said future leaders must be given opportunities to undergo training and pursue further studies, rather than to those nearing retirement.
Najib cited an incident during his time as a cabinet minister where a chance to study at the prestigious Harvard Business School in the United States had been given to a PTD officer with less than a year of service left.
"If we want to give training or experience to a PTD officer, it needs to go to those who have the potential to use those skills to contribute and serve longer.
"We should give these opportunities to those in middle levels so that when it is time for them to take over the top positions, they will truly be able to offer the premier service that all governments aim to provide," he said while delivering the PTD Association (PPTD) Perdana Leadership Lecture here.
Najib also called on PTD officers to improve their communication skills, especially as Malaysia prepares to take over the chairmanship of Asean next year.
"We will be expected to serve as a point of reference for others, so we need to be good communicators and be able to articulate well.
"We need to be able to prepare reports and explain them to others in a way that shows we truly understand the issues at hand."
He said PTD officers should use positions as opinion leaders to explain government policies, such as the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax and the subsidy rationalisation process, to the people.
Present were Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Dr Ali Hamsa, PPTD president Datuk Seri Zainal Rahim Seman and other top civil servants.