PM: Covid-19 demands review of govt procedures
PUTRAJAYA: The procedure and way of working in the government must be reviewed to help the country rebuild itself in the new normal post Covid19, said Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
He said the old ways were no longer suitable in the post-Covid19 situation.
Speaking in his first meeting with staff of the Prime Minister's Department (JPM) since heading the government and implementing the Movement Control Order (MCO), Muhyiddin said as far as possible, the many levels of decision-making should be reduced, and the heads of agencies and departments be given the authority to make immediate decisions.
He said the Chief Secretary to the Government could serve as the key facilitator in the event ministries or agencies had issues to discuss, so that they would not face action from auditors or enforcement agencies.
“This is something that we cannot avoid. These measures are some of what we must think of to help recovery efforts to revive the country's economy,” Muhyiddin spoke during the assembly on Dataran Perdana, Perdana Putra here yesterday.
Muhyiddin said although Malaysia had almost overcome
Covid-19 faster than other countries, bureaucratic and administrative issues should not be the reason those countries could recover faster than Malaysia.
“This is not a good example because we take longer to help all sectors recover.
“So we are facing a very big challenge, not just at the JPM, but also at every deparment and ministry level, including in the state governments and local authorities,” he said.
Quoting the Economic Action Council report, Muhyiddin said although the industry should be able to move fast after the economic sector was opened up, this was not the case following several issues, including financial problems such as insufficient revolving capital.
“So our role as civil servants is connected to them, whether through providing direct services or issuing licences, conducting certain tests or making a decision about their applications – it is a more challenging task for us,” he said.
Muhyiddin also stressed that the Perikatan Nasional (PN)led government upheld all the principles that it had fought for to create a government, which was clean and had integrity.
Stressing that there would be no compromise in this matter, Muhyiddin said the present government would continue with the National Anti-Corruption Plan that it had agreed upon with the previous administration.
“We want to ensure that the government administration is according to the ‘ rule of law', and what we implement is not seen as abusing our power,” he said.
Muhyiddin also stressed that the government administration should be conducted in an organised and proper manner, especially in financial matters so that there would be no wastage.
On government expenditure, he said almost 45 to 50 per cent of development allocation had been spent, despite some hitches during the MCO, adding that there was still more to be done before the end of the year.
“Of course I am hoping for close collaboration between us; if there are any issues or problems, we should discuss them with all parties and heads of departments.
'We must remember that we do not work in silo,” he said.
This is something that we cannot avoid. These measures are some of what we must think of to help recovery efforts to revive the country’s economy.
Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin