Monday November 19, 2007
Use more dignified ways, says Pak Lah
By R.S.N. MURALI
KUALA TERENGGANU: The Prime Minister has given the boot to the “broom award”, which he deems to be demeaning.
“It should not have happened at all. Use more effective methods to enhance the performance of these agencies,” Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi told reporters after visiting the Islamic Civilisation Park in Pulau Wan Man here yesterday.
He was commenting on the recent awarding of brooms by Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo to the president of the Hulu Selangor District Council and former district officer of the Hulu Selangor Land Office.
Abdullah said state governments should consider a “dignified” formula to discipline under-performing government agencies rather than use demeaning methods.
“I have asked Datuk Khir Toyo for his rationale for presenting the brooms and he replied that the move was reached mutually by him and other top government officers after a meeting,” he said.
Abdullah said the awarding of the brooms by the Selangor Government was meant to encourage under-performing state agencies to do better but it had slighted the feelings of certain people.
“So if this (kind of award) is humiliating, it should be scrapped and replaced with more effective methods to enhance the performance of these agencies,” he said.
Abdullah said awards which are considered unnecessary or not well accepted by the majority should be avoided.
“In the case of Selangor, there are people who are in favour while some are against, but there should be discretion on the types of awards to be presented,” he said.
On Nov 12, two Selangor Government agencies were publicly rebuked when they were presented with a broom each on stage by Dr Khir for failing to collect assessment above the 50% mark required for 2006.
The “broom award” was printed in the programme book as Special Award Performance for Revenue Collection 2006.
Dr Khir withdrew the controversial broom award and replaced it with the threat to give under-performing department heads of local councils the boot.
Meanwhile, Abdullah said he was satisfied with his visit to Terengganu yesterday. He said the agriculture project in Telaga Papan, Setiu, was being done on a large scale and aimed at helping smallholders.
“I was also impressed with the development at the state animation centre which would provide vast opportunities to the younger generation,” he said.
Abdullah witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Dr Karie Wilgerd, vice-president of Sun Microsystems, and the state government, represented by State Secretary Datuk Mokthar Nong, to develop the Java Specialist Programme at the centre.
The Prime Minister expressed his happiness at the progress of the Islamic Civilisation Park, which is the first such concept in the world.
“These are projects under the ECER (East Coast Economic Region) which will greatly benefit the people,” he added.
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