Civil servants urged to be ready for digital tsunami
KOTA KINABALU: Public Service Department (PSD) director-general Datuk Seri Borhan Dolah urged civil servants to be prepared to face the digital tsunami which has now changed the civil service landscape in the country.
He said to ensure that civil servants were always ready to face technological challenges, staff at the various levels must be exposed and equipped with digital capability and skills.
“Hence, the government recently launched the Digital Government Competency and Capability Readiness (DGCCR) which is a government initiative designed to develop digital competencies and capabilities among civil servants in providing the best service to the people.”
He said this when launching the Sabah Zone DGCCR here yesterday which was also attended by Sabah federal secretary Nor Azri Zulfakar and Sabah state secretary Datuk Seri Hashim Paijan.
Elaborating Borhan said the DGCCR framework would emphasise on enhancement of eight individual capabilities and 17 organisational capabilities which were expected to produce knowledgeable public officials to cater to future needs.
“DGCCR was designed to bring about change effectively and to contribute to organisational excellence through digital-minded civil servants as this will have a high impact on the quality of services,” he said.
He said the Sabah Zone was the first to be chosen for the DGCCR launch and the PSD would hold similar events nationwide.
Meanwhile, Borhan said the civil sector and the government have no problem working hand in hand to better serve the people.
This was in response to a statement by Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad on uncooperative civil servants.
Borhan believed it was not because of unwillingness to cooperate, but because of reservations from both parties following the change in government.
"When change happens, we as civil servants have to serve the government of the day. Similarly, the government looks at the civil sector as its main machinery in executing all policies.
"Following the 14th General Election and the changes that came with it, both the civil sector as well as the new government are cautious and have their reservations in taking action.
"This is normal and happened even with the former government, where civil servants' loyalty is taken into account as well as the government's trust," he explained.
Borhan hoped both parties could communicate effectively to ensure both are on the same page, because what matters is providing good service to the people, for the nation.
If both parties can put their reservations aside, surely we could progress more efficiently, he said.
"To us (civil sector), we have no problem in working together because it is our duty to serve the government of the day. Therefore, we must adapt quickly," he added.