Sunday July 19 2009
By Adib Zalkapli
PUTRAJAYA, April 28 – Datuk Seri Najib Razak today proposed to open up key positions in the government to talent from the private sector and government-linked companies (GLCs) in an attempt to modernise the civil service.
He also admitted that there was a need for the government to justify the high expenses of RM41 billion to maintain the civil service last year.
“The time has come for key positions in the public sector to be opened to talents from the private sector and GLCs and from services other than the administrative and diplomatic service.
“We cannot be too dogmatic, we need selected talent, the best and tested for the benefit of the people,” said.
The proposal, said the prime minister, was part of structural changes to the civil service, which he called “multi-level admission system.”
“Under this concept, we would be able to benefit from ‘cross fertilisation’ process between talents from the civil service and private sector,” said Najib to thousands of civil servants at a special assembly here.
He asked the civil service to emulate the career development plan and head hunting process practiced by Petronas, PNB and Bank Negara in order to attract the best talent.
He also wanted civil servants to be seconded to GLCs for better exposure to the private sector.
In improving services, Najib wanted operational procedures to be revamped to ensure efficiency.
“Why should we operationally continue practising obsolete work processes, if it can be made faster. This thing can be done if there is a will, it is not impossible,” he said citing the passport application process which can now be completed within hours.
Najib also explained that forming new agencies or departments would not solve the problems facing the civil service.
“We need to control the size of government because the government doesn’t know everything or is in possession of every solution. The reality is, the era of big government and government knows best has ended,” he said.
