Ministers Can Accept Officers' Views On Policies - Najib
Ministers can accept constructive criticisms from government officers on decisions and policies but they must be made before implementation, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said Monday.
The Deputy Prime Minister said officers have the right to give their views to the relevant ministers on the decision made on a policy conveyed to them before it was enforced. "What I mean here is if something is passed down to you, listen carefully, understand what it is all about and then, if you disagree, give your views to the minister concerned. "I don't think our ministers are that arrogant and fierce to the extent of not accepting any criticism or views from their officers.
"We ministers can accept criticisms and views from our officers," he said when speaking at the Prime Minister's Department's monthly assembly. Najib said after a decision or policy had been agreed to by the officers, it must be implemented. "But what I hate is if a decision has been made, it is not carried out. Please don't do that, when a decision has been made, implement it," he said.
Based on his experience being in the government, civil servants were generally loyal in complying with the orders and in fact, some implement the orders even before they received them or fully explained. He said some officers were too eager to enforce certain instructions even before the directive to implement the decision or policy was issued. "For example, when we meet or call an officer and ask him to do something, normally the request made is done," he said.
Najib said that if problems arose in the midst of implementing a decision or policy, officers are encouraged to confer with the minister for his views. "If this kind of interaction and working relationship can be developed between officers and ministers, I believe all the planning and implementation set out under the Ninth Malaysia Plan, national mission and other promises made by the Government to the people before the last general election can be honoured and implemented.
Najib also touched on the beyond ordinary service concept, which if practised by civil servants, would enhance their public service delivery system and competency. "It's easy to translate this concept into action in our daily work. If possible, answer a telephone call at the third ring."We take a month to process an application before making a decision, if we can shorten it to two weeks, we've done something beyond the ordinary," he added.
While I agree with the DPM on the need for constructive criticism and a good working relationship between ministers and their senior officers, whether it will be practical is an entirely different question. I for one can't see officials of the Works Ministry for example daring to give any unsolicited advice whether constructive or otherwise to Samy Vellu. I may be wrong of course. It is said that the most fierce of ministers turn out to be the best of bosses.
Perhaps someone should conduct an-off-the record interview with senior civil servants of different ministries. Then we can get a better idea of whether what Najib advices is workeable.
The Deputy Prime Minister said officers have the right to give their views to the relevant ministers on the decision made on a policy conveyed to them before it was enforced. "What I mean here is if something is passed down to you, listen carefully, understand what it is all about and then, if you disagree, give your views to the minister concerned. "I don't think our ministers are that arrogant and fierce to the extent of not accepting any criticism or views from their officers.
"We ministers can accept criticisms and views from our officers," he said when speaking at the Prime Minister's Department's monthly assembly. Najib said after a decision or policy had been agreed to by the officers, it must be implemented. "But what I hate is if a decision has been made, it is not carried out. Please don't do that, when a decision has been made, implement it," he said.
Based on his experience being in the government, civil servants were generally loyal in complying with the orders and in fact, some implement the orders even before they received them or fully explained. He said some officers were too eager to enforce certain instructions even before the directive to implement the decision or policy was issued. "For example, when we meet or call an officer and ask him to do something, normally the request made is done," he said.
Najib said that if problems arose in the midst of implementing a decision or policy, officers are encouraged to confer with the minister for his views. "If this kind of interaction and working relationship can be developed between officers and ministers, I believe all the planning and implementation set out under the Ninth Malaysia Plan, national mission and other promises made by the Government to the people before the last general election can be honoured and implemented.
Najib also touched on the beyond ordinary service concept, which if practised by civil servants, would enhance their public service delivery system and competency. "It's easy to translate this concept into action in our daily work. If possible, answer a telephone call at the third ring."We take a month to process an application before making a decision, if we can shorten it to two weeks, we've done something beyond the ordinary," he added.
While I agree with the DPM on the need for constructive criticism and a good working relationship between ministers and their senior officers, whether it will be practical is an entirely different question. I for one can't see officials of the Works Ministry for example daring to give any unsolicited advice whether constructive or otherwise to Samy Vellu. I may be wrong of course. It is said that the most fierce of ministers turn out to be the best of bosses.
Perhaps someone should conduct an-off-the record interview with senior civil servants of different ministries. Then we can get a better idea of whether what Najib advices is workeable.
posted by The Malaysian. at 7/03/2006 01:39:00 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home