Cuepacs on reason for reduced majority

PUTRAJAYA: The government's refusal to pay civil servants RM2,000 each in honorarium and its competency level appraisal system, Penilaian Tahap Kecekapan (PTK), caused a drop in the winning majority of Barisan Nasional's Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor when he won re-election to the Putrajaya seat, said Cuepacs president Omar Osman.
Public servants make up the majority of voters in Putrajaya. Omar said national issues such as high prices of goods also caused more voters to back the Pas candidate. He said Cuepacs' stance on PTK was clear."We want it to be abolished as it is the cause of pent-up frustration among civil servants, especially the seniors."
Omar also said Cuepacs would bring up the matter again in its meeting with Public Service Department officers on March 25.

The NST Online : 18 March 2008

Kegagalan adalah Kejayaan

" Sucess is 99 percent failure"

Soichiro Honda

Failure is success if we learn from it.

Malcolm Forbes

Berapa banyak tenaga dan sumber sudah dileburkan didalam mengelakkan kegagalan? Tiada siapa pun yang gemarkan pembaziran. Ego meluap. Kekeciwaan dan kehampaan membawa kekesalan yang tidak terhingga. Tetapi kita seharusnya memberhentikan pembaziran sumber tenaga ini dengan melihat bahawa kegagalan adalah satu peluang yang dapat kita pelajari. Gunakan kegagalan itu sebagai batu loncatan kearah memenuhi puncak matlamat akhirnya. Buat penilaian keatas apakah tindakan yang perlu dilakukan bagi mencapai kemenangan selepas itu. Kaji keperluan dan penuhi kemahiran baru untuk mencapainya. Apa nak dirisaukan jika membuat kesilapan, betapa banyak sekalipun, akhirnya kita akan meraikan kejayaan jua.

Akur muhassabah diri

It's harder to defeat

Than it is to spell,

Revenge is not sweet,

It's bitter as Hell

Duke Ellington

Adakalanya kegagalan milik kita.  Ada masanya kekalahan kita ditangan orang yang sombong, pentingkan diri, dan cuba menghina kita didalam proses selanjutnya. Menumpukan usaha membalas dendam tidak menolong sesiapa pun.

Usaha yang negatif akan meleburkan tenaga diri kita. Bertindak terus melawan mungkin menampakkan kebodohan orang yang jelas kalah. Terimalah sebarang kekalahan dengan semangat cekal, berani dan bermaruah. Tumpukan kearah memperkukuhkan visi jangka panjang. Kembalilah ke gelanggang pertempuran, tapi dengan azam mencapai matlamat murni bukan untuk membalas dendam.. akhirnya kemenangan kita diperlakukan kearah niat yang lebih hebat untuk semua jua dengan menjauhkan dendam kesumat.

Be neutral, Selangor state secretary tells his officers

SHAH ALAM (March 13, 2008): Selangor state secretary Datuk Ramli Mahmud has told his officers to be neutral in carrying out their work and to remember that it is their duty to serve the government of the day. “I have met with all heads of department in the state and told them that it’s our job to follow the instructions from the new government of the day,” he said. “It will be business as usual, unless there are issues and matters involving changes in policies,” he added. Ramli said that some tasks and duties have been postponed until the new mentri besar is elected, but other than that it is work as usual. Speaking on allegations that state government documents have been removed or shredded, Ramli said: “There is a record of all government files, and anyone who removes files from the state secretariat building can be charged.” We have heightened security around the building, a measure that applies even when the situation is stable, he said. “I thank PKR (Parti Keadilan Rakyat) and PAS (Parti Se-Islam Malaysia) members for not storming into any state buildings and assure them that all files and documents will be secured for the new state government’s use,” he added. On questions over disputes arising due to the management of community centres and other properties which used to be under the control of some Barisan Nasional component parties, Ramli advised: “Until the new government assumes control, don’t act on your own.” “We’ll wait for new instructions and if there is a new committee formed, the keys will be handed over via the appropriate process and regulations,” he said. On the fate of state officers, Ramli said there are three categories of state officers – those who are contracted, those who are appointed by the state under the state services commission and those appointed by the federal government via the public services commission. Those appointed by the federal government occupy federal positions and if the officer is not performing up to expectations, they can be replaced – but only with another federal officer, he said. Ramli said as for state-appointed officers, their services can be terminated but only via the due process.

Maria J. Dass The Sun ; Updated: 01:41AM Thu, 13 Mar 2008

Civil servants and new state-federal relations

For the first time Selangor, Perak and Kedah are won by non-component parties of the Barisan Nasional (BN) which has ruled the country for the past fifty years. Penang was captured by the Gerakan in 1969 but ruled only briefly before it became part of the BN. But the DAP-PKR-PAS coalition which won power in the state in the 12th general election is unlikely to share power with parties outside the group. Kelantan has been ruled by PAS for the past 18 years and Terengganu was briefly ruled by PAS in 1959 and for a term after the 1999 general election. Sabah too had been ruled by non-BN party or parties, sometimes as part of the coalition and sometimes outside the coalition. The fact is Penang (even if only briefly), Kelantan, Terengganu and Sabah have seen changes in their governments and their civil servants are quite adept at executing new policies introduced after a change of political masters. But for the civil servants of Selangor, Perak and Kedah it is a new experience. The BN had been entrenched there for so long that some civil servants, like those in the federal establishments, even began to think that that they were part of the political machinery of the coalition. It is important that civil servants in these states respond positively to the change since they are a fact of life, as seen elsewhere. The transition should be as brief as possible and with as minimal disruptions as possible because the rakyat has to be served. It is only the masters that have changed but as civil servants their work remains the same. If the new masters change existing policies to new ones or ask for projects to be cancelled in favour of new ones their response should only be "yes, minister" and act accordingly. And if they have not realised or have forgotten that their states are members of the Federation of Malaysia they will soon learn that within certain limits their states can act independently. They have got used to Malaysia acting like a unitary state because most of the time all the states are ruled by BN parties. And the states act as one because of political control effected through the state BN. But as a result of the general election five states are now ruled by non-BN parties and there is likelihood they are going to act more individually than they have been in the past.

The Sun : Updated: 10:35PM Tue, 11 Mar 2008

Concern is Leaders Action

"Concern should drive us into Action

and not into a depression"

Karen Horney

Never underestimate the value of even the most modest of gesture to help someone in need. Your kindness and good intentions can begin a chain reaction of helpful acts.

Do all the good you can,

By all the means you can,

In all the ways you can,

In all the places you can,

At all the times you can,

To all the people you can,

As long as ever you can.

John Wesley

Leading effectively through ICT

Send feedback to PM via website

By ROSLINA MOHAMAD The STAR  2 Mac 2008

PEKAN: The people can now send their views, suggestions and complaints on the performance of the Government and its leadership to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi through the Warkah Untuk PM website. 

The website found at http://www.warkahuntukpm.com.my was launched on Saturday by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak at the Seri Kenanga residence in Peramu here. 

Najib said that each message from the public will get a response from Abdullah. 

A separate folder will also be created for innovative and workable ideas and the first 100 that have implementation merit will be rewarded with the senders being granted a personal visit with the Prime Minister. 

Najib also presented a letter of appointment to Angkasawan Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor who is the website's ambassador. 

Speaking to reporters later, Najib said it was the era of information, communication and technology (ICT) and the Internet channel was a vital and effective link to obtain feedback from the public. 

``The people are free to give their ideas on anything and those with substance will be considered by the Government. 

``It is also a way for the Government to know issues of concern among the public such as security, education, economy and social,'' he added. 

Najib also said it was a two-way interactive and responsive communication that would have short and long-term effects, adding that it was something new adopted by the Government. 

He added that the launching came about during the elections but the website would still be operational even after the general election was over as it was an essential way to continuously gauge the people's views.

Leading succesfully for humanity

"Life is a succession of moments, To live each one is to succeed"

Corita Kent

"Man is not on earth solely for his own happiness,

He is there to realize great things for humanity"

Vincent Van Gogh

Untuk apa kita bekerja? Ada yang lebih utama dalam kehidupan dari mengejar wang, menghabiskan hari minggu, dan cuba menghindari tugas berat dengan sedikit rehat dan beriadah..Sifat diri kita yang mempunyai bakat memimpin, juga membolehkan kita menjadi calun memimpin mereka dengan memberikan khidmat dengan tujuan murni melepasi kepuasan diri sendiri.

Berkhidmat untuk masyarakat kita mungkin seolah olah satu beban dan dugaan yang memerlukan pengorbanan yang signifikan. Tetapi pemimpin yang menempuh laluan ini bekerja untuk tujuan yang murni...didalam cara yang memenuhi setidak tidaknya yang terbaik mengikut cara hidup dan semangat yang ada bagi membantu kehidupan kearah yang lebih baik jua...tanpa menghirau upah dan balasan yang nyata. Pilihlah tujuan dan bekerja kearahnya. Kita perlu membalas jasa tanpa berkira. Ini adalah sebahagian daripada kontrak tidak nyata, keatas bakat dimana kita sudah punyai keistimewaan yang dianugerahkan tuhan.

KSN on Overhauling the Public Services

Govt committed to overhauling services, says Chief Sec

By V.P. SUJATA The STAR 29 Feb 2008

PUTRAJAYA: The Government has given its commitment to overhaul the services at the land office, local authorities and front line agencies to ensure a responsive public service that fulfils its promises. 

In line with the National Vision and Mission, the Public Service Department is also committed to ensuring merit-based performance standards and increasing ethnic diversity in the service, said Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan. 

Sidek stressed that the plan seeked to raise market activity for a competitive economy while driving a balanced development through the eradication of poverty. 

Instilling a culture of serving with integrity and zero tolerance to corrupt practice was also a commitment, he said, adding that another area to be addressed collectively by both the private and public sectors was the issue of perception. 

"Perception can stem from simple things like not answering your telephone calls to answering them rudely to larger issues of the lack of transparency and accountability. 

"It takes years to build a reputation and only a second to destroy it," he said Friday in his speech when launching the first annual report of the Special Task Force to Facilitate Business (Pemudah) here. 

Sidek, who is Pemudah co-chairman, said the Government faced a great challenge to ensure the 28 ministries, 720 agencies and 144 local authorities delivered good services. 

"We are moving in the right direction. Maybe next year or in the next few years Malaysia will be up there and be a benchmark for the world to follow," he said, adding that apart from focusing on business facilitation, Pemudah also tackled issues that affected the lives of Malaysians. 

"Malaysia must be the country of choice not just for business but also to live in; that must be our collective goal," he said.

KSN on Corrupt civil servants

Corrupt civil servants will eventually be booted out: Chief Secretary

By : Hamidah Atan NST

PUTRAJAYA, Fri: 29 Feb 2008

Corrupt civil servants will be sidelined and, eventually, given the boot. Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan said even if the court of law had not decided on their cases, "we, in the civil service, will use existing rules governing civil servants, to ensure they are sidelined.

"And once the court of law decides, we will make sure there is an exit for them as we do not tolerate corruption," Sidek, who is also Pemudah co-chairman, said this after a meeting with Pemudah members at his office yesterday. He later presented Pemudah's annual report, the first for the task force set up last year to facilitate all aspects of doing business in the country and improve the public service delivery system. Also present was Pemudah other chairman, Tan Sri Yong Poh Kon.

Pemudah's 2008 commitments includes overhauling of services at land office, local authorities and frontline agencies, ensuring merit-based performance standards and increasing ethnic diversity in the public service, raising market activity for a competitive economy, driving balanced development through eradication of poverty and instilling a culture of serving with integrity and zero-tolerance to corrupt practices.

Saying he was not in a denial syndrome as far as corruption involving civil servants is concerned, Sidek added the problem, however, was not that prevalent. "If you are talking about 1.2 million in the civil service, we are not angels. There are some who stray but as far as I am concerned, we are not tolerating. We have zero-tolerance for this."

Continuous efforts and activities were being carried out to prevent the people from committing corruption. "That is why we go to a great extent to build the Malaysian Institute of Integrity.

"We are also telling the people and students that corruption is a no-go area, not only in terms of religion but the others. Don't let it happen and we have to make sure it does not happen."

Pemudah would also be relentless in efforts to improve Kuala Lumpur's ranking in the World Bank Report. Malaysia ranked 24th of 178 countries in the World Bank Doing Business 2008 Report. The World Bank had itemised the areas where Kuala Lumpur could improve further, he added.

"I believe when the results (following Pemudah efforts) started coming in, we will no longer stay at 24 but higher,” he said. "We are doing this not for the World Bank or the World Trade Organisation (WTO) but for ourselves. However, if this process by Pemudah can improve our ranking and public service delivery, that will be a double bonus. With the World Bank pressing us, we are pressing ourselves. The prime minister is the worse pressure cooker for us. He is the one who insisted that we do all this because he is the leader of this country. He wants to make us competitive and we are doing all this for our country."

Sidek also said there were some who were sceptical whether Pemudah could make a difference. "After presenting the six-month progress report to the prime minister on Aug 17, he decided that Pemudah carry on the work that it had begun and to keep up the momentum for change that it had successfully put in place."

The annual report, Sidek said, documented the fact that government's exhortations about making improvements to public service delivery had moved beyond rhetoric. "You will note from our annual report that we worked on urgent and important areas with high public interface. Time-consuming and dispensable processes are discarded."