EAC to focus on public administration reform

KUALA LUMPUR: Reform of public administration is among the key areas that the Economic Action Council (EAC) is focusing on in its long-term economic recovery plan.

Minister the Prime Minister’s Department (Economy) Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed said the government, through the EAC, had conducted a series of workshops in an effort to revive the economy.

Issues addressed include public institutions and governance, the readiness of the future workforce, empowering the digital economy, preparation for the changing global landscape and improving the quality of regulation and market.

“Today’s fifth workshop is aimed at gathering ideas for economic recovery. We assembled a total of 60 civil servants from various ministries to discuss the challenges faced today and how we can prepare for the challenges after Covid19,” he said after delivering the

in welcoming address.

He proposed that the government sectors redistribute their workforce according to the current needs during this recovery phase.

“We have to be fair. There are sectors that may require more staff than before (Covid-19) and some that require less. We must also train our officers to be skilled now and for the future.”

Meanwhile, although the pandemic has brought challenges with it, it has also presented an opportunity for the implement of new policies, he said.

“The global landscape has also changed where most countries are now protecting their interests, compared to free trade before.

“We will use this opportunity to ensure that we have sound policies to enable Malaysia to further strengthen its position,” he said, adding that the EAC will be closely monitoring the economy. – Bernama