By Yasmin Ramlan
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 22 — State executive councillor for innovation Dr Fahmi Ngah has urged government servants in Selangor to embrace the challenges of digital innovation, thus improving their quality of services to the people.
This is necessary as it is unfeasible for 17,000 state civil servants to satisfy some seven million people in Selangor by continuing to operate the conventional way, he said when addressing a group of public office bearers during the Selangor Public Service Innovation Council (MPIPANS) appreciation and prize-giving ceremony.
“Our objective in Selangor is actually to diversify and increase the number of digital innovations,” he said in his opening remarks at the ceremony, held in conjunction with the 4th Selangor Research and Development and Innovation Expo (SRIE), at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, here, today.
“Yes, there will be challenges. But if we approach them positively, I think this is an opportunity where we can increase the ability of civil servants so that more digital innovations can be produced, subsequently improving the state government’s services.
“I think the current ratio — of 17,000 civil servants in Selangor to seven million residents — appears to be quite distant for us to achieve our objective (of providing the best service).
“So, we need some improvements and digital solutions so that it can be achieved effectively.”
Earlier, he noted how advanced nations are spearheading innovations today, pointing out that a substantial portion of these innovations have received vital support and nurturing from the government.
Among others, he highlighted the United States government’s role in advancing its space programme, while emphasising that technologies like the global positioning system (GPS) in mobile phones would not have materialised without government backing.
“Yes, we believe there will be support from the private sector, but more importantly, the government must drive, guide and nurture innovation,” he said.
The Seri Setia assemblyman also lauded the efforts of state civil servants who contested in this year’s MPIPANS competition, aimed at enhancing the quality of their services, and congratulated the winners.
Kumpulan Jaegers from the Selangor Syariah Judiciary Department won the innovation in service delivery (creation) category, while Kumpulan Xcelsior from Shah Alam City Council bagged the innovation in service delivery (improvement) category.
Two other categories, social innovation (creation) and social innovation (improvement), were won by Kumpulan C.O.B from Ampang Jaya Municipal Council and Kumpulan Evoter9 from Klang Municipal City Council and Platform Selangor respectively.
