Don't be touchy, take heed, civil servants urged

The Star

By SIM LEOI LEOI

PUTRAJAYA: Civil servants should take heed of any criticism that may come up in debate during the Umno general assembly which begins Monday evening.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said such criticisms were not meant to condemn or put them down.

"Delegates will take the opportunity during debate to voice their opinions on various development projects and the civil service. They are merely expressing their feelings or sentiments on various issues.

"Civil servants should listen to what they have to say because these opinions are not meant to condemn or put them down. Instead, they should take heed of what may be raised during the debate, particularly when these opinions come from the governing party," he said in his speech at the Prime Minister's Department monthly gathering here earlier on Monday.

Abdullah, who is party president, is expected to deliver his keynote address at the assembly during its opening on Wednesday.

He also said he was confident that the public delivery system had become more efficient following several measures implemented recently, especially the One Stop Centre set up by the Housing and Local Government Ministry.

"However, services provided by the centre can still be further improved on as it may take some time for the public and civil servants to get used to the new way of doing things.

"As the central agency overseeing government projects, our department is sure to be informed of any positive or negative feedback. When this happens, we have to help those concerned.

"As a central agency, whether this be the department or the Treasury, we have to be the best among the best in terms of efficiency and integrity," he said, adding that the department should not put off deciding on any matter that had come into its attention.

Maintaining an efficient and well-oiled government machinery was also essential in order to persuade talented officers from leaving the civil service for greener fields, said Abdullah.