PUTRAJAYA: Civil servants under the Human Resources Ministry should be encouraged to voice their opinions, says Minister Steven Sim.
He said they should not follow the leader blindly but give advice or suggestions when they see the need for improvement.
“In our culture, sometimes we take it for granted that leaders are always right and cannot be criticised even if they are in the wrong.
“However, loyalty to a leader does not mean that we cannot give advice or clarification when we see problems,” he said during the ministry's New Year 2025 mandate at Menara PERKESO on Tuesday (Jan 7).
He also said civil servants under the ministry have a great responsibility to safeguard and manage the people's resources.
“We must be brave to give different views to leaders.
“If you see something wrong, provide advice, guidance and even reprimand. As the Minister, I will stand by you,” he said.
Sim added that in his work, he is guided by the advice given by officers from the various departments.
“Those in management should also have an attitude to accept different views from others,” he said, adding that different opinions spur the development of society and the nation.
He noted that the ministry was not focussing on new events and projects but would continue improving ongoing initiatives in the spirit of 3K: Kebajikan (welfare), Kemahiran (skills) and Keberhasilan (achievements).
This applies not only to the Malaysian workforce in general but to all 15,000 ministry employees from the top management down.
He also urged ministry personnel to be its ambassadors and provide clear information and guidance to all who come through its doors.
"Take the initiative to guide those who seek help, rather than shifting the responsibility to other departments or leaders," he said, adding that there should be "no wrong door".
Also present at the event were Deputy Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Mohamad and ministry secretary-general Datuk Azman Mohd Yusof.
A ministry statement issued at the event expressed its commitment to providing a variety of training programmes and courses for its employees, for which RM3mil has been allocated under Budget 2025.
It also plans to review 28 Acts under its purview to bring them in line with current developments here and abroad.
