PUTRAJAYA, June 15 — The government will not tolerate ‘negligent’ public officers who ‘demand kickbacks’ and ‘impose added costs’, Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali said today.
Issuing a reminder that the downfall of past world civilisations had been due to the greedy pursuit of wealth, corrupt practices and spite, Zuki said civil servants must always uphold the highest level of integrity in warding off corruption and abuse of power.
“The consequences of this disgraceful act not only affect national development but the ill-gotten gains will surely be questioned in the afterlife,” he said in his speech at the Prime Minister’s Department (JPM) Appreciation Awards ceremony, here.
He said the government’s seriousness in dealing with integrity issues and ensuring good governance will further attract foreign investors’ confidence in Malaysia, in turn strengthening the national economy that grew at a rate of 5.6 per cent in the first quarter of 2023, which he described as healthy in the midst of an economic recovery.
Zuki underlined the importance of practising moderation and non-wastage in the planning of programmes and expenditure management and urged the JPM fraternity to be a role model when it comes to spending prudently and within budget.
“This includes all procurement processes which must be carried out in accordance with existing procedures and regulations,” he said.
On Malaysia Madani, Zuki said it should not be seen as merely a political concept and slogan, but understood by all levels of civil servants and translated into the continuous and good efforts being carried out by the government.
Malaysia Madani is based on six core values — sustainability, prosperity, innovation, respect, trust and compassion — as an effort to steer and restore the country’s dignity and glory on the global stage.
Rationalising the core values, Zuki said how civil servants conduct themselves is reflective of the civil service’s image and dignity, and therefore, politeness and courtesy should always be paramount.
He said civil servants need to be ready to listen to public views and accept criticism of shortcomings and mistakes that can be improved upon through client feedback and satisfaction surveys.
“Data and statistics obtained through these studies are very important to evaluate the attitude of civil servants in delivering services to the people with courtesy, fairness and integrity.
“Mutual respect between civil servants and the people will be the basis for the survival of the government system and the progress of the country,” he said.
He also suggested that the civil service’s ‘‘no gift policy’ be constantly publicised by all agencies, especially JPM, taking into account the aspect of integrity in order to build trust towards civil servants.
In addition, Mohd Zuki said the ‘silo’ mentality in the public service must be shunned, adding that collaborations and strategic partnerships will produce a spirit of creativity and innovation among civil servants.
Civil servants also need to think outside the box to deliver better quality services that can meet client needs, in addition to possessing creativity and being innovative, he added.
At the appreciation ceremony, Mohd Zuki presented certificates and awards to 29 JPM staff retiring this year, 206 recipients of the 2022 Excellent Service Award and 233 recipients of the 2022 Innovation and Excellence Award from 33 departments and agencies under JPM.
— Bernama
