Socio-Economic Research Centre executive director Lee Heng Guie.
WE support Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s remarks that reform in the civil service should take place immediately as there is still room for improvement.
It was mentioned that there were several areas which reforms had not reached satisfactory levels. There were also reports by department or agency heads about negligence and sluggishness among officials.
Several other areas, which need to be looked into included some departments and agencies besides the overlapping of positions among officials.
The effectiveness and efficiency of the public sector (administration) is vital in executing public policies.
It would support the business sector, facilitate both domestic and foreign investors as well as ensure the timely implementation of development projects and programmes.
The imperative of public administration is the achievement of speed, efficiency and better coordination in the delivery of services at all levels – federal, state and local authorities.
An efficient civil service and administrative system, good governance, sound and disciplined financial management, fair collection of taxes, as well as transparent operations that are relatively free of corruption, are conditions needed to deliver good public services.
Both the IMD World Competitiveness and the World Governance Indicators showed that Malaysia’s ranking in “government efficiency” and “government effectiveness” has dropped in 2024; and the ranking had been hovering between 30th and 33rd and 39th and 45th respectively.
Malaysia’s public sector services has gone through different period of reforms in the 1960s, 1980s and 1990s to improve administrative performance and public delivery services in tandem with the phases of economic development.
However, poor implementation has impeded success.
In the mid-term review of the 12th Malaysia Plan (Chapter 2: Enhancing Efficiency of Public Service Delivery), it was reported that efforts were undertaken to strengthen public service delivery efficiency and effectiveness in meeting the rising expectations from the rakyat and stakeholders.
“Nevertheless, the improvements are still insufficient to deal with the ongoing issues and challenges.
“In this regard, main issues and challenges which need to be addressed are weak governance, constraints in human capital development, low adoption of digital technology, and unconducive environment for organisation and business.
“Furthermore, limited fiscal space and inefficient project management also need to be addressed,” it stated.The public service reform of bureaucracy to enhance efficiency, productivity, accountability of the administration, implementation of budget programmes and public policies must be a continual process backed by firm commitment from the top leadership.
The Chief Secretary to Government has identified three main challenges that were ingrained in the public sector to the point of disrupting services to the people and country.
They are the “silo” mentality and bureaucracy, service delivery still using old, less effective as well as uncompetitive methods.
Following the Covid-19 pandemic, there is a need to reform public sector. The people expect better use of technology and data to deliver quality services.
Speed, convenience and friendly approaches are necessary to keep up with public expectations.
There are instances where many areas of public services are characterised by fragmented and overlapping delegations of power to administrative agencies.
The government often assigns more than one agency or multiple agencies for the same functions which resulted in duplications and redundancies, leading to a waste of resources and inefficiency.
Ultimately, it could slow down the pace of economic development and also policies implementation.
The following recommendations are proposed to improve coordination of agency policymaking, including centralised supervision and inter-agency consultations.
> The rationalisation of federal statutory bodies. On Sept 3, 2024, the government has established the secretariat for the rationalisation of federal statutory bodies to address the issue of overlapping functions and structures, involving statutory bodies and government-linked companies.
The secretariat would act immediately as part of the government’s efforts to reform public services.
Under the rationalisation of the government representative offices and agencies abroad, overseas offices of agencies and ministries such as Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry, Malaysia External Trade Development Corp, Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry and the Malaysian Investment Development Authority will be consolidated under one roof.
> Embracing inclusive decision-making in shaping of government initiatives.
By leveraging and harnessing technology, promoting transparency, governance, involving public and stakeholders in the decision-making processes, we can build trust, strengthen accountability, and deliver public services that have a positive and lasting impact.
Through town hall meetings, surveys, and focus groups, we can instill a sense of ownership and buy-in of public policies.
> Improving coordination of agencies’ responsibilities.
It is important that federal agencies identify any areas of shared, overlapping or closely related jurisdiction or operations that might require, or benefit from, inter-agency coordination.
This is to ensure that all overlapping functions are effectively separated without affecting government’s operations and public services.
> Sharing and adoption of best practices. The coordination policies and procedures adopted by the government agencies should include sharing of best practices.
> Decentralised approaches to deliver public services.
Consider to move from a model of central provision to that of decentralisation to local governments and introduces a new relationship of accountability between the federal government and local government. The process of implementing decentralisation through various instruments (fiscal, administrative, regulatory, market, and financial) can influence better service delivery outcomes.
> Improving public complaints management. The government is considering creating a unique model of Ombudsman Malaysia that combines the Public Complaints Bureau and the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission. It is an independent body to receive and address complaints related to the federal public service delivery system. The ombudsman body will be empowered to ensure that public complaints are duly addressed and resolved while improve enforcement, increase transparency and efficiency in addressing public complaints.
> Enhance the role of public services commission. In committing towards delivering public services efficiently, fairness and of quality, the public services commission must constantly review its functions to better understand how well placed is the organisation to meet current and future challenges and how the commission can best position itself for the future.
We are pleased that the Public Service Remuneration System, which will come into effect on Dec 1, 2024, embodies the principles of civil service reform. These are increasing the productivity and efficiency of the civil services; enhancing the readiness of public servants to implement changes; and improving the nation’s competitiveness.
Lee Heng Guie is Socio-Economic Research Centre executive director. The views expressed here are the writer’s own.
