Kenaikan gaji besar lebih baik dari bonus – Najib

Utusan Online

Daripada SAMSOR JUNET

PARIS 25 Okt. – Kakitangan kerajaan perlu menyedari hakikat bahawa kenaikan gaji yang besar tahun ini sebenarnya jauh lebih besar faedahnya daripada bonus tahunan, kata Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

Menurut Timbalan Perdana Menteri, kenaikan gaji sebanyak 42 peratus yang diberikan kepada kumpulan sokongan tahun ini merupakan kenaikan gaji yang terbesar dalam sejarah.

Malah, tegas beliau, jika dikira tiap-tiap bulan, pendapatan kakitangan kerajaan yang bertambah itu jauh lebih besar daripada bonus tahunan yang pernah diterima.

“Sebab itulah kerajaan memutuskan pada tahun ini tidak ada bonus. Mereka kena terima hakikat kenaikan gaji yang besar itu lebih besar faedahnya daripada bonus tahunan yang pernah mereka terima sebelum ini,” katanya kepada wartawan Malaysia pada akhir lawatan kerja tiga hari ke Perancis di sini, semalam.

Beliau menyatakan demikian ketika diminta mengulas kenyataan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi bahawa kerajaan tetap tidak memberikan bonus kepada kakitangan awam pada tahun ini.

Kelmarin, Presiden Kongres Kesatuan Pekerja-Pekerja Di Dalam Perkhidmatan Awam (CUEPACS), Omar Osman meminta kakitangan kerajaan terutama dalam kumpulan sokongan supaya lebih berjimat-cermat dan tidak sangat mengharapkan bonus.

Pada sidang akhbar itu juga, Najib menafikan andaian sesetengah pihak bahawa terdapat perlumbaan senjata di kalangan negara anggota ASEAN kebelakangan ini terutama membabitkan pemerolehan kapal selam.

Menurut beliau, ini kerana pembelian peralatan ketenteraan yang canggih oleh beberapa negara anggota kebelakangan ini merupakan satu proses semula jadi bagi setiap negara dalam memodenkan angkatan tentera masing-masing.

Beliau berkata, dalam kes Malaysia, negara telah mengumumkan usaha-usaha bagi pemerolehan kapal selam Scorpene sejak empat tahun lalu, begitu juga pembelian 18 pesawat pejuang Sukhoi SU-30MKM dari Rusia.

“Sebenarnya negara-negara lain akan melakukan perkara yang sama kerana aset-aset lama perlu diganti dengan peralatan baru dengan teknologi semasa yang canggih mengikut kemampuan masing-masing,” katanya.

Beliau menyatakan demikian ketika diminta mengulas dakwaan sesetengah pihak berlaku perlumbaan di kalangan negara anggota ASEAN untuk memiliki kapal selam sendiri termasuk Singapura dan Indonesia yang masing-masing memiliki empat kapal selam.

Laporan audit: Empat lagi ditahan

Utusan Online

Oleh KHAIRUL AZRAN HUSSIN

KUALA LUMPUR 25 Okt. – Badan Pencegah Rasuah (BPR) hari ini menahan empat lagi individu yang disyaki terlibat dalam penyelewengan pembelian peralatan dan kelengkapan seperti didedahkan dalam Laporan Ketua Audit Negara 2006 baru-baru ini.

Penahanan empat individu itu menjadikan jumlah mereka yang ditahan oleh BPR berhubung kesalahan tersebut ialah 17 orang.

Empat individu terbabit berjawatan penolong pengarah Cawangan Pentadbiran Latihan Kementerian Belia dan Sukan (KBS), bekas pengarah Institut Kemahiran Belia Negara (IKBN), Pegawai Teknikal Kejuruteraan awam KBS dan pengurus projek sebuah syarikat pembekal peralatan kepada IKBN.

Ketua Pengarah BPR, Datuk Ahmad Said Hamdan berkata, keempat-empat individu terbabit ditahan di sekitar ibu negara, Kedah dan Perlis.

“Penolong pengarah Cawangan Pentadbiran Latihan KBS berusia 40-an dan pengurus projek syarikat pembekal peralatan berusia 30-an itu ditahan di ibu negara tengah hari ini.

“Bekas pengarah IKBN berusia 56 tahun ditahan di Kedah dan pegawai teknikal kejuruteraan awam KBS berumur 40-an ditahan di Perlis,” katanya ketika dihubungi Utusan Malaysia di sini hari ini.

Ahmad Said memberitahu, keempat-empat individu tersebut akan didakwa di Mahkamah Sesyen Kangar, esok.

“Tiga orang daripada mereka akan didakwa di bawah Seksyen 11 (C) Akta Pencegahan Rasuah 1997 manakala pengurus projek syarikat pembekal peralatan itu akan didakwa mengikut Seksyen 20(1)(C) akta yang sama kerana bersubahat,” katanya.

BPR telah menegaskan, pihaknya tidak mengamalkan sikap pilih kasih dalam menyiasat dakwaan penyalahgunaan perbelanjaan kementerian dan jabatan kerajaan.

Ahmad Said dalam kenyataan sebelum ini memberitahu, kementerian dan jabatan terlibat disiasat sebelum Laporan Ketua Audit Negara 2006 dikeluarkan kerana maklumat mengenainya diterima lebih awal oleh BPR.

Tegas beliau, tidak ada pilih kasih dan mereka yang bersalah akan dihadapkan ke mahkamah.

Ketua Audit Negara, Tan Sri Ambrin Buang dalam laporannya baru-baru ini menegur beberapa kementerian kerana menerima tawaran harga kontraktor yang terlalu tinggi dalam pembelian peralatan.

Laporan tersebut antaranya menegur proses pembelian 13 peralatan dan kelengkapan bagi IKBN di bawah KBS pada kadar melebihi harga pasaran sehingga kerajaan terpaksa menanggung kerugian RM8.39 juta.

Ini termasuk pembelian dua menara kren membabitkan perbelanjaan RM5.72 juta berbanding RM2.98 juta harga pasaran, selain membeli alat pengangkat kereta dua tan berharga RM5,741 sebuah berbanding cuma RM50 sebuah di pasaran.

Pakar bedah persoal UKM beri layanan anak emas buat Tan Hock Lim

KUALA LUMPUR, 25 Okt (Hrkh) - Meskipun dibantah banyak pihak, khususnya oleh para pensyarah kanan Fakulti Perubatan Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, akhirnya Prof Dr Tan Hock Lim, diterima secara rasmi sebagai Distinguished Profesor bagi tempoh empat tahun, dengan gaji RM168,000 sebulan, berkuat kuasa 1 Oktober lalu.

Naib Canselor UKM, Prof Dato' Dr Sharifah Hapsah Syed Hasan Shahabudin, menawarkan jawatan berkenaan kepada Dr Tan, 58, anak kelahiran Malaysia tetapi kini seorang warganegara Australia, secara tidak mengikut peraturan yang ditetapkan, dengan imbuhan lumayan, iaitu lebih RM8 juta sepanjang tempoh perkhidmatannya selama 48 bulan.

Berita perlantikan Dr Tan itu menimbulkan kekecohan sehingga timbul ura-ura bahawa sebilangan pakar bedah di UKM akan membuat protes secara terbuka. Harakah turut menerima banyak rungutan melalui emel daripada pelbagai kalangan dipercayai oleh warga fakulti perubatan sendiri.

Menurut Sharifah Hapsah, Tan yang mengukir nama sebagai antara pengasas pembedahan laparoskopi atau 'keyhole surgery' bagi kanak-kanak akan memberi khidmat kepakaran untuk menubuhkan Pusat Kemahiran Pembedahan Termaju (Advanced Surgical Skills Center) di Hospital UKM. Tan berhijrah ke Australia sejak 1963.

Bagaimanapun, seorang pakar bedah dalam satu pertemuan dengan Harakah, di sini, baru-baru ini, mempersoalkan: "Naib Canselor jelas mengetepikan semua prosedur sebelum melantik Dr Tan. Siapa yang review kelayakannya? Panel mana yang menilai keupayaannya? Ia membabitkan wang pembayar cukai yang banyak, justeru, apakah bidang laparoskopi atau 'keyhole surgery' itu merupakan keutamaan di Hospital UKM sekarang?"

Beliau yang juga bekas pensyarah perubatan UKM hairan bagaimana kelulusan membabitkan wang jutaan ringgit dalam isu perlantikan Dr Tan mudah diberikan, sedangkan menurut pengalamannya, bagi kes yang lebih perlu disegerakan, ia mesti melalui pelbagai peringkat birokrasi dan memakan masa cukup lama.

"Saya bimbang ada campur tangan suami Naib Canselor sendiri, juga pakar padeatrik, yang merupakan kenalan lama Dr Tan," ujarnya. "Masakan Sharifah tidak tahu bidang mana yang perlu disegerakan. Mengapa hanya tertumpu kepada kes pedeatrik? Berapa banyak waiting list dalam bidang itu sehingga puluhan juta, selain gaji Dr Tan, perlu dicurahkan ke situ?"

Beliau berkata, jika UKM mahu menambahbaik kekuatan dalam bidang perubatan, sepatutnya keutamaan diberikan kepada bidang yang lebih kritikal seperti pemindahan hati ataupun neuro surgery. Malah, katanya, dalam bidang pedeatrik sendiri, kes-kes yang membabitkan hidup-mati kanak-kanak, seperti pembedahan jantung, lebih perlu disegerakan.

Apabila ditanya maksud mudah 'keyhole surgery' yang menjadi kepakaran Dr Tan, pakar bedah itu menjawab, ia tidak melibatkan pembedahan kes kritikal hidup-mati seseorang kanak-kanak tetapi lebih merupakan "pembedahan kosmetik" dengan kesan kesakitan dan parut paling minima.

"Kalaupun kita mahu menjemput pakar-pakar perubatan bertaraf dunia datang ke UKM bagi menaikkan nama baiknya, ramai lagi anak-anak Malaysia yang kini berada di luar negara, misalnya Dr Ahmad Sallehuddin dan Dr Hamdan Leman yang kini bekerja di Riyadh. Rasanya dengan kemudahan sebaik ditawarkan kepada Dr Tan, ramai rakyat Malaysia bersedia pulang menabur bakti di tanah air mereka. Ingat, Dr Tan bukan lagi rakyat Malaysia," tambahnya.

Beliau turut memberi contoh bagaimana liver centre di Hospital Selayang tidak dapat beroperasi seperti dirancang disebabkan tiada pakar dalam bidang berkenaan. "Saya sekadar mahu memberi contoh bahawa banyak lagi bidang perubatan yang kritikal, yang perlu diberi keutamaan segera di negara ini. Jika kita kelihatan begitu mewah, seperti dalam kes Dr Tan, lebih baik ia dijuruskan kepada bidang berkenaan," tegasnya.

Dalam perkembangan sama, Harakah menerima emel yang memaklumkan kerja-kerja ubahsuai dewan pembedahan dan bilik makmal untuk Dr Tan, yang dikatakan menelan belanja kira-kira RM90 juta, rancak dijalankan. Difahamkan Dekan Fakulti Perubatan UKM Prof Dato' Dr Lokman Saim dan Pengarah HUKM, Prof Dato' Dr Mohamad Abd Razak turut tidak berpuas hati dengan perlantikan Dr Tan yang dibuat tanpa melalui tapisan sewajarnya.

Kaji semula fungsi EPU

Utusan Online

KUALA LUMPUR 24 Okt. – Ahli Parlimen Kalabakan, Datuk Abdul Ghapur Salleh meminta kerajaan mengkaji semula fungsi Unit Perancang Ekonomi (EPU) yang disifatkannya gagal dalam mempercepatkan pelaksanaan projek- projek pembangunan kerajaan.

Beliau berkata, EPU seringkali mengambil masa yang agak lama dalam memberikan kelulusan kepada sesebuah projek pembangunan sehingga ada ketikanya menyebabkan kos projek tersebut meningkat berkali ganda.

Beliau mengambil contoh bagaimana sebuah projek pembangunan yang diluluskan kerajaan dua tahun lalu, tidak dapat dilaksanakan dengan serta-merta hanya disebabkan kelewatan EPU memberikan kelulusan.

‘‘EPU merupakan satu badan yang penting tetapi jika ia diketuai oleh seorang yang tidak memahami kehendak rakyat, maka kita akan ada masalah. Masalah kita, EPU lemah dan ia mesti dikaji semula.

‘‘Kita mahu Perdana Menteri, (Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi) dan Timbalan Perdana Menteri (Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak) sendiri mengetuai EPU. Mungkin ada keberkesanan,” katanya ketika membahas Rang Undang-Undang Perbekalan 2008 di Dewan Rakyat hari ini.

Isu kelewatan pelaksanaan projek kerajaan yang dibahaskan oleh Abdul Ghapur turut mendapat perhatian wakil rakyat lain termasuk Datuk Raja Ahmad Zainuddin Raja Omar (BN-Larut) dan Datuk Mohd. Said Yusof (BN-Jasin) yang antara lain membangkitkan masalah sistem penyampaian.

Raja Ahmad Zainuddin ketika mencelah berkata, kelewatan pelaksanaan projek pembangunan menyebabkan ada pihak mengambil kesempatan dengan mendedahkannya melalui televisyen.

Beliau yang kesal dengan perkembangan itu berkata, pihak berkenaan seringkali bertindak sebaik sahaja pendedahan dibuat, sedangkan masalah terbabit telah banyak kali dibangkitkan oleh wakil rakyat, tetapi tiada maklum balas sehingga memberikan gambaran mereka seolah-olah tidak bekerja.

Juruaudit profesional di semua jabatan

Utusan Malaysia

Oleh HABIBAH OMAR

PUTRAJAYA 24 Okt. – Semua jabatan audit dalaman di jabatan dan agensi kerajaan akan dianggotai oleh juruaudit profesional dari Jabatan Audit Negara bagi mengelak berlakunya salah laku dalam pengurusan dana awam.

Ketua Audit Negara, Tan Sri Ambrin Buang berkata, langkah serta-merta itu dilaksanakan kerana kerajaan sangat serius dalam perkara yang melibatkan tanggungjawab dan integriti.

‘‘Saya menyarankan supaya audit dalaman perlu lebih berkesan dengan membantu pengurusan kementerian memantau pelaksanaan pengurusan kewangan termasuk pengurusan perolehan,” katanya kepada pemberita di sini hari ini.

Beliau ditemui selepas menghadiri Majlis Sambutan Hari Raya Aidilfitri anjuran Jabatan Perdana Menteri di sini hari ini.

Ambrin mengulas mengenai tindakan Badan Pencegah Rasuah (BPR) mendakwa 10 orang termasuk sembilan kakitangan kerajaan di mahkamah di tiga negeri atas tuduhan yang mempunyai kaitan dengan Laporan Ketua Audit Negara 2006.

Mereka termasuk individu yang berjawatan pengarah dan penolong pengarah di Kementerian Belia dan Sukan (KBS) serta pegawai dan kakitangan Jabatan Kebajikan Masyarakat (JKM) dengan sebahagian besarnya didakwa mengikut Seksyen 11(c) Akta Pencegahan Rasuah 1997.

Ditanya bagaimana audit dalaman yang dilakukan dalam kementerian terbabit boleh terlepas kepada audit negara, beliau berkata, audit dalaman yang dijalankan melibatkan bidang pengurusan serta pembabitan banyak agensi, jabatan dan orang ramai.

‘‘Ini yang kita dapat adalah secara rawak, kebetulan perkara ini dapat diketahui maka kita laporkan,” katanya.

Ditanya sama ada tindakan yang sama pernah diambil ke atas pegawai yang terlibat dalam salah laku dana awam hasil laporan audit sebelum ini, Ambrin berkata, beliau tidak pasti mengenainya kerana baru dilantik sebagai Ketua Audit Negara.

‘‘Saya tak berani komen apa-apa mengenai itu kerana ia adalah pada masa lalu. Semenjak saya jadi Ketua Audit Negara, ini nampak nyatalah, tindakan susulan dibuat seperti yang dinyatakan oleh kerajaan. Kerajaan melakukan apa yang dirasakan perlu.

‘‘Kerajaan begitu serius mengenai integriti, saya lihat ia sebagai tindakan yang sewajarnya diambil oleh pihak berkuasa, biar undang-undang menentukannya,” katanya.

Mengenai cadangan BPR supaya kajian menyeluruh dilakukan ke atas sistem pembelian terus yang diamalkan oleh jabatan dan agensi kerajaan selama ini, Ambrin berkata, perkara itu wajar dipertimbangkan.

Katanya, sistem yang mempunyai kelemahan sewajarnya diperbaiki supaya tidak dieksploitasikan oleh mana-mana pihak.

‘‘Jika dapat mengurangkan kejadian tak sewajarnya, kita semua harus sokong dan Jabatan Audit Negara sentiasa bekerjasama dengan BPR selama ini,” katanya.

Tatatertib: KSN mahu lihat dulu laporan

Utusan Malaysia

PUTRAJAYA 24 Okt. – Ketua Setiausaha Negara (KSN), Tan Sri Mohd. Sidek Hassan mahu melihat terlebih dahulu laporan Badan Pencegah Rasuah (BPR) mengenai cadangan badan itu agar tindakan tatatertib dikenakan ke atas pegawai yang terlibat dalam isu salah guna dana awam.

Beliau berkata, pihaknya perlu bertindak berasaskan kepada peraturan sedia ada demi keadilan kepada kakitangan kerajaan yang terlibat dalam kes tersebut.

Namun, katanya, sekiranya didapati kakitangan itu perlu dikenakan tindakan tatatertib, nama mereka akan turut didedahkan kepada umum.

‘‘Kita perlu mengikut peraturan-peraturan yang ada, saya akan melihat dahulu laporan tersebut dan kita bertindak berdasarkan laporan itu dan peraturan sedia ada.

‘‘Kita mesti mempunyai keadilan dan kesaksamaan tetapi anda tahu tentang saya, saya akan mengikut segala peraturan, bagi mereka yang patut kena (tindakan) kenalah,” katanya.

Beliau berkata demikian kepada pemberita selepas menghadiri majlis sambutan Hari Raya Aidilfitri Jabatan Perdana Menteri (JPM) di pekarangan Kompleks JPM di sini, hari ini.

Hadir pada majlis itu ialah Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi serta isteri, Datin Seri Jeanne Abdullah, menteri-menteri Kabinet, ketua-ketua jabatan dan agensi kerajaan di bawah JPM.

Semalam, Ketua Pengarah BPR, Datuk Ahmad Said Hamdan berkata, sekurang-kurangnya lima orang pegawai kanan Kementerian Belia dan Sukan akan dicadangkan dikenakan tindakan tatatertib di bawah Peraturan-Peraturan Pegawai Awam (Kelakuan dan Tatatertib) 1993, Perkara 4.2(g)(ii).

Pegawai berkenaan telah dikenal pasti terlibat dalam mesyuarat berkaitan pembelian peralatan dan kelengkapan oleh kementerian kepada lapan buah IKBN di seluruh negara dengan harga yang tinggi hingga menyebabkan kerugian kepada kerajaan.

Hasil semakan BPR, mereka juga didapati telah ke luar negara tanpa kebenaran dan menerima keraian daripada kontraktor.

BPR masih meneruskan siasatan untuk membuktikan sekiranya terdapat unsur-unsur jenayah dilakukan oleh mereka dan kes itu akan dirujuk kepada Peguam Negara setelah siasatan selesai.

Guru DG41 'patah hati' isu gaji belum selesai

Berita Harian

BULAN lalu, Kementerian Pelajaran mengumpul maklumat melalui Jabatan Pendidikan Negeri masing-masing mengenai guru gred DG41 yang dilantik dari DGA29 yang dikatakan berjumlah 8,000 orang.

Ia terjadi akibat desakan dan rundingan daripada banyak pihak seperti NUTP/KPPK ekoran daripada rasa tidak puas hati dan kerugian yang ditanggung guru yang dilantik ke gred DG41 dari gred DGA29 tanpa mendapat gred DGA32 terlebih dulu.

Masalah itu disebabkan kenaikan gaji pada Julai 2007 sebanyak 25 peratus bagi kakitangan sokongan. Perkara itu diakui sendiri dan sedang mendapat perhatian Kementerian Pelajaran dan Jabatan Perkhidmatan Awam (JPA).

Penjelasan paling mudah untuk memahami situasi ini, saya memberi contoh mengenai tiga guru yang mengajar selama 13 tahun yang dikira selepas kenaikan gaji pada Julai 2007 seperti berikut:

Guru A, masih gred DGA29, P1T13 kerana gagal dalam PTK dengan gaji pokok RM2,186.16. Guru B, lulus PTK dan bergred DGA32, P1T3 dengan gaji pokok RM2,612.69, manakala, Guru C, bergred DG41, P1T7 dari gred DGA29 tanpa mendapat gred DGA32 dengan gaji pokok RM2,238.55. Semua guru berkhidmat selama 13 tahun daripada lantikan asal gred DGA29.

Perbezaan gaji pokok guru gred DG41 dengan DGA29 ialah RM2,238.55 � RM2,186.16 = RM52.39 saja, manakala perbezaan gaji pokok DGA32 dengan DG41 ialah RM2,612.69 � RM2,238.55 = RM374.14. Bagi kenaikan gaji tahunan pula, guru bergred DGA29 ialah RM65.04. Bagi guru gred DGA32 pula ialah RM98.31, manakala bagi guru gred DG41, RM90.45.

Inilah hakikat gaji pokok dan kadar kenaikan gaji tahunan bagi guru DG41 yang berijazah dan yang berkorban tenaga, masa dan wang selama empat tahun untuk mendapatkan ijazah. Mereka hilang semua time based ketika berkhidmat di gred DGA29 dulu apabila menjawat gred DG41 yang memerlukan masa paling kurang 10 tahun lagi untuk layak memohon jawatan gred DG44.

Kebanyakan guru DG41 sudah berumur yang tidak akan mencapai gaji maksimum dalam DG41. Malah �cukup-cukup makan� untuk merasa gred DG44. Ini pun jika ada rezeki dan panjang umur.

Guru DGA32 sebelum ini hanya perlu masa dua jam menduduki peperiksaan PTK untuk lulus tanpa melalui pengorbanan seperti guru DG41 dan tidak hilang time based untuk memohon DGA34 dan DGA38. Guru DGA32 bukan saja mendapat kenaikan gaji lebih tinggi, malah mendapat durian runtuh daripada tunggakan kenaikan gaji hingga belasan ribuan ringgit.

Semua guru DGA29 berpeluang mendapat DGA32 bersama durian runtuh masing-masing, asalkan lulus PTK dan cukup time based. Semua itu tidak dapat dirasai guru DG41 yang hanya 'menggigit jari' melihat guru DGA32 mendapat durian runtuh.

Kegembiraan guru DGA32 tidak berakhir di situ saja kerana ada yang menunggu untuk dilantik ke DG41. Sekali lagi gaji pokok mereka naik.

Saya berharap kerajaan menimbang sebaik mungkin keluhan dan nasib guru DG41 selama ini. Keputusan yang tepat memang perlu supaya tidak ada jurang besar gaji pokok dan kenaikan gaji tahunan bagi DGA32 dengan DG41 dan guru DG41 tidak patah hati untuk bekerja dengan baik.

ENMA ABDULLAH,
Kuantan, Pahang.

BPR buru ramai lagi

Berita Harian


KENA DAKWA: Pegawai Jabatan Kebajikan Masyarakat Raub, Sidek Abd Rahman (tengah) dibawa keluar dari Mahkamah Sesyen Raub, semalam selepas menghadapi 22 pertuduhan pecah amanah mengambil wang kerajaan RM12,175. Sementara itu bekas Ketua Penolong Pengarah di Kementerian Belia dan Sukan (KBS), Kamaruzaman Md Ali (kiri atas); Penolong Pengarah Institut Kemahiran Belia Negara (IKBN) Bachok, Loh Hong Wai (kiri bawah); wakil Biro Inovasi dan Perundingan Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), Ismail Ibrahim (kanan bawah) dan Pengurus Projek Kosijaya Didactic Sdn Bhd, Loh Siu Le dituduh bersubahat dan membuat tuntutan palsu.

6 pegawai Kementerian Belia dan Sukan masih disiasat, seorang ditahan semalam

PUTRAJAYA: Badan Pencegah Rasuah (BPR) akan menahan ramai lagi individu bersabit kes penyelewengan dan pecah amanah susulan pendedahan Laporan Ketua Audit Negara 2006 mengenai salah urus dana awam.

Petang semalam, BPR menahan bekas ketua sekolah binaan Institut Kemahiran Belia Negara (IKBN) Chembong, Negeri Sembilan berusia 33 tahun di Temerloh, Pahang. Lelaki yang ketika ini memegang jawatan selaku Ketua Unit Pengurusan Latihan IKBN Temerloh akan didakwa di Mahkamah Sesyen Seremban, hari ini.

Ketua Pengarah BPR, Datuk Ahmad Said Hamdan, berkata siasatan berhubung pendedahan Laporan Ketua Audit Negara itu masih belum berakhir kerana ia memerlukan penelitian secara lebih terperinci.

"Ya, belum habis lagi, masih ada beberapa lagi... siasatan masih diteruskan. Ada beberapa kes lagi yang kita lihat iaitu berhubung penyelewengan dan pecah amanah," katanya pada sidang media khas di ibu pejabat BPR di sini, semalam. Hadir sama ialah Timbalan Ketua Pengarah 1 BPR, Datuk Abu Kassim Mohamed.

Sidang media itu diadakan bagi memaklumkan hasil siasatan BPR berhubung pendedahan Laporan Ketua Audit Negara 2006 mengenai salah urus dana awam membabitkan beberapa kementerian dan agensi kerajaan. Laporan itu dibentangkan di Parlimen pada 7 September lalu.

Semalam, 10 individu termasuk enam pegawai Jabatan Kebajikan Masyarakat (JKM) serta dua pegawai Kementerian Belia dan Sukan (KBS) didakwa di Mahkamah Sesyen Kota Kinabalu, Kota Bharu dan Raub. Difahamkan, inilah kali pertama tindakan diambil berdasarkan Laporan Ketua Audit Negara.

Ahmad Said berkata, BPR juga mencadangkan tindakan tatatertib dikenakan terhadap lima pegawai kanan KBS yang terbabit dalam mesyuarat berkaitan pembelian peralatan dan kelengkapan untuk lapan Institut Kemahiran Belia Negara (IKBN) pada harga lebih tinggi, berbanding harga pasaran.

Beliau berkata, siasatan BPR juga mendapati pegawai terbabit ke luar negara tanpa kebenaran dan menerima keraian daripada kontraktor berkenaan.

"Enam pegawai lain pula masih dalam siasatan BPR," katanya sambil menambah, BPR turut mencadangkan tindakan tatatertib dikenakan terhadap seorang juruteknik awam yang membuat perakuan palsu berhubung kerja pembaikan kuarters kerajaan di Pulau Pinang bagi membolehkan kontraktor terbabit membuat tuntutan pembayaran.

Menjawab soalan, beliau berkata ketua jabatan berkenaan perlu mengambil tindakan tatatertib terhadap pegawai terbabit seperti ditetapkan iaitu sama ada dibuang kerja, turun pangkat, turun gaji, celaan dan amaran.

Ahmad Said berkata, BPR juga masih menyiasat pembelian beberapa peralatan untuk IKBN seperti papan bancuh simen, kabin kontena, buku teknikal dan pen teknikal yang terlalu mahal dan tidak munasabah serta merugikan kerajaan.

"Hasil siasatan awal mendapati wujud salah urus dana awam. BPR sedang menyiasat untuk mengenal pasti salah laku jenayah terhadap mereka terbabit dan sekiranya berlaku perlanggaran peraturan, BPR akan mencadangkan jabatan berkenaan mengambil tindakan tatatertib," katanya.

Sehubungan itu, BPR akan mencadangkan kerajaan supaya melakukan kajian menyeluruh terhadap sistem pembelian terus yang diamalkan jabatan dan agensi kerajaan supaya lebih telus.

Katanya, siasatan BPR mendapati terdapat beberapa kelemahan dalam sistem itu yang membuka ruang kepada berlakunya rasuah dan penyelewengan.

"Ini terbukti dalam Laporan Ketua Audit Negara 2006 yang mendedahkan kebanyakan proses pembelian peralatan dibuat secara rundingan terus," katanya.

Ahmad Said berkata, BPR juga akan mencadangkan kerajaan menyenaraihitamkan syarikat yang membekalkan peralatan kepada IKBN yang dikaitkan dalam Laporan Ketua Audit Negara 2006 kerana melanggar peraturan kewangan.

Beliau berkata, tindakan sama juga dicadangkan terhadap kontraktor yang terbabit dalam kerja pembaikan kuarters kerajaan di Pulau Pinang kerana melakukan penyelewengan ketika membuat tuntutan pembayaran.

Selain itu, BPR mencadangkan supaya klausa bagi menjelaskan kesalahan di bawah Akta Pencegahan Rasuah 1997 dimasukkan dalam semua dokumen kontrak kerajaan sebagai peringatan terhadap pihak berkenaan agar tidak mengambil kesempatan melakukan rasuah dan penyelewengan.

"Jika wujudnya perlakuan rasuah di dalam kontrak itu, adalah dicadangkan supaya kontrak mereka ditamatkan serta-merta," katanya.

Agency: Price of screwdrivers fair, but not others

The Star

PUTRAJAYA: The Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) has cleared all parties involved in the procurement of the screwdrivers that were allegedly made at inflated prices by the National Youth Skills Institute (IKBN).

The ACA, however, has detained four people in connection with the purchase of three digital cameras, deemed to be bought at an unreasonable price and not following specifications.

The Auditor-General's Report for 2006 cited these items among those bought at inflated prices by the Youth and Sports Ministry for the IKBN.

The Auditor-General said the ministry paid RM8.39mil more than the market price for the items, including RM224 for a set of four screwdrivers (costing RM32 in the market).

The ministry also paid RM5.72mil for two crane towers (against the market price of RM2.98mil), technical books comprising 17 titles priced at RM10,700 and three units of 3.1 mega pixel digital camera that were bought at RM8,254 each.

ACA director-general Datuk Ahmad Said Hamdan said the supplier of the Draper screwdrivers took into account that they were imported and came with a guarantee of authenticity and quality.

“Our survey from other suppliers showed that Draper screwdrivers, of different sizes, were imported with a guarantee of between RM20 and RM40 for each screwdriver, depending on the currency exchange at the time of purchase.

“The price is thus reasonable, taking into the account the costs of bringing in the screwdrivers and the assurance of quality,” he told reporters at his office here yesterday.

He said the agency found the price of the screwdrivers reasonable, “considering that these screwdrivers were not those manufactured in China”.

“We are scrutinising this case and will submit a report on this to the department involved later,” he added.

However, said Ahmad Said, there were irregularities involved in the purchase of the technical books, the digital cameras and other items by IKBN.

“For the technical books, the supplier sold the 17 sets at RM10,700 each while the A-G Report indicated the actual price to be RM417 per set.

“Our survey showed that books, with those same titles, should cost between RM50 and RM150 each and the entire set should be around RM500 to RM1,500.

“The price quoted by the supplier was thus too high and unreasonable, causing the Government to suffer losses,” he said.

The ACA has detained four people in connection with the camera purchase and was recommending that at least five senior ministry officers face disciplinary action for carrying out their duties without considering the implication on their department and the Government.

ACA checks showed that those involved had gone on overseas trips without permission from the Government and accepted various “entertainments” from the company.

“Six others are still under investigation. We are continuing with our probe to prove element of criminality and the case will be referred to the Attorney-General’s office,” added Ahmad Said.

The A-G's Report has so far led to 10 people being hauled to the courts to face various corruption offences. At least five senior civil servants are facing disciplinary action.

The ACA would also ask for a company involved in the renovation of some government quarters in Penang to be blacklisted and a government technician to be penalised for making false declarations.

Tiada bonus kepada kaki tangan kerajaan tahun ini

Utusan Malaysia

Kerajaan tetap dengan pendiriannya untuk tidak memberi bonus kepada kakitangan awam pada tahun ini, kata Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Beliau berkata, tiada perubahan dengan pendirian dan kenyataan yang dibuat berhubung perkara itu sebelum ini.

‘‘Tidak ada keputusan baru me ngenai permintaan bonus kepada kakitangan awam yang diminta se belum ini,” katanya pada sidang akhbar selepas merasmikan MSC Malaysia Cybercentre @Meru Raya, Perak di sini hari ini.

Ditanya sama ada kerajaan mungkin memberikan saguhati ke pada kakitangan perkhidmatan awam sebagai ganti bonus, Abdullah juga enggan mengulas mengenai kemungkinan itu.

“Saya sudah cakap dulu dan saya sudah keluarkan kenyataan berkaitan dengan bonus. Tak payah cakap lagilah... cukuplah sekali,’’ tegas be liau.

Sebelum ini, Presiden Kongres Kesatuan Pekerja-Pekerja Di Da lam Perkhidmatan Awam (CUEPACS), Omar Osman meminta ka kitangan awam terutama dalam kumpulan sokongan agar lebih ber jimat cermat dan tidak sangat mengharapkan bonus.

Mereka dinasihatkan tidak me naruh harapan yang tinggi malah mesti berani menghadapi kenyata an bahawa tidak ada bonus diberi kan tahun ini.

Bagaimanapun CUEPACS telah menghantar memorandum kepada kerajaan agar dipertimbangkan ba yaran honorarium purata RM2,000 setiap kakitangan menjelang perayaan Aidilfitri lalu menggantikan bonus.

Omar berkata, pihaknya menga kui bebanan kerajaan untuk mem bayar bonus sebulan kepada lebih satu juta kakitangan awam yang memerlukan perbelanjaan hampir RM4 bilion.

Menteri Kewangan Kedua, Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop dalam kenyataannya sebelum ini memaklumkan, keputusan tidak memberi bonus pada Bajet 2008 merupakan keputusan Kabinet dengan menga mbil kira gaji yang diterima oleh sektor awam baru-baru ini agak lumayan.

Abdullah Mahu BPR Jaga Imej

PUTRAJAYA, 24 Okt (Bernama) -- Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi meminta Badan Pencegah Rasuah (BPR) memelihara imej dan kewibawaan agensi itu sepanjang masa.

Perdana Menteri berkata pegawai BPR yang memikul amanah yang berat perlu menjalankan tugas dan tanggungjawab dengan baik, amanah, saksama dan cekap.

Beliau bercakap kepada pemberita selepas melawat ibu pejabat BPR di sini dan menyaksikan pakaian seragam BPR yang buat pertama kalinya dipakai pada satu perbarisan hari ini.

Lawatan itu dimulakan dengan perhimpunan diikuti dengan majlis ramah mesra.

-- BERNAMA

Audit teams must be more efficient, says Ambrin

The Star

PUTRAJAYA: The internal audit teams in ministries and agencies must be more efficient in monitoring the management of public funds and uncovering abuses, particularly in the procurement process.

PUTRAJAYA: The head of the National Audit Department, Tan Sri Ambrin Buang said this had always been his advice to members of the internal audit teams.

However, he said the public must also understand that in the management within agencies and ministries, there were too many financial transactions taking place in a day.

"The management of funds may not just occur within one ministry or department, but involves multiple agencies and officers. In fact, what our department has uncovered in our report is merely the results of our survey based on randomly selected agencies.

"At present, many of the members of these internal audit teams are already officers from our department. However, from now on, you can expect more professional audits to sit in these teams," he told reporters during the Prime Minister's Department Hari Raya open house celebration here Wednesday.

He was responding to findings announced by the Anti-Corruption Agency on Tuesday in their investigations of the cases highlighted in the Auditor-General's Report 2006.

Ten civil servants were charged throughout the country while another five senior officers were expected to face disciplinary action.

ACA director-general Datuk Ahmad Said Hamdan also called for a preventive clause to be inserted in all government contracts, tender letters and agreements in the future as well as reviewing the procurement procedures now being practised by ministries and agencies.

Ambrin said he agreed with the ACA for the tightening of such loopholes so that these could not be exploited and for the insertion of the preventive clause.

"If such a clause can help reduce abuses, this should be considered by the Government and we should support it," he said.

Asked if the public could expect a "better" report for next year, Ambrin said it was still too early to say.

"I pray very hard that it will be better in terms of accountability and integrity next year," he said.

Later, Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan said his office would look into the kind of disciplinary action to be taken against the errant officers under the Public Officers Conduct and Discipline Regulations.

"We will have to wait for a formal report from the ACA on the matter before taking any action against them as we have to be fair," he said.

'Optional retirement a privilege, not a right'

NSTP

Q: Some civil servants are said to have been given preferential treatment when they applied for optional retirement while others were rejected without a valid reason. How does a civil servant get to go on optional retirement?

A: All civil servants are allowed to apply for optional retirement at the age of 40, subject to the recommendation of his head of department.

However, for certain services, departmental heads must look into additional considerations.

For doctors and nurses, who are classified under critical services, the optional retirement age is 47.
(Those under critical services are mostly from the health service, where there is a shortage of doctors and specialists. There is no specific list and may include any civil servant who is a specialist in a particular field not easily replaced).

However, optional retirement is a privilege and not a right. It is up to the discretion of the government to decide.

I must emphasis that there is no discrimination and the departmental head will decide based on certain criteria.

It will be based on how critical the person (who has asked for optional retirement) is to the department, can the department find a suitable replacement, etc.

All applications will be given due consideration. Of course, the reason the person has asked for optional retirement will also be taken into account.

Q: It has been reported that the PSD is expected to issue a directive not to consider promotions for study loan defaulters who are serving in the civil service. Has this been done?

A: We have begun to do this. Defaulters are considered as employees who go against the basic ethics of employment and it is only fair that they are not considered for promotions.

Not paying their loans is equivalent to a breach of trust. You must pay what you owe. They must understand that we need the money to roll.

If they do not repay their loans, the fund gets depleted and this is not fair to others who need the money. We cannot let these defaulters deprive other deserving applicants.

Q: On unpaid PSD loans, what is the amount owing and what are the steps initiated by the PSD to recover this amount?

A: I don't have the figures at this point, but I can assure you that the number of defaulters has decreased. We are flexible. We understand that many face financial difficulties and are unable to pay the scheduled amounts.

We are reasonable as long as they pay. They can pay us online or through their banks.

We are also prepared to re-negotiate the terms to make it easier for them to pay.

Q: There were reports that there were about 100,000 vacancies in the civil service which are yet to be filled. What is the present status of these vacancies?

A: There are vacancies in the government which need to be filled.

This is an ongoing process and interviews are frequently held to fill up these vacancies.

However, the problem is that sometimes candidates who come for interviews are not well prepared.

That is why they do not make it through and when we cannot find a suitable candidate, the position remains vacant.

Some vacancies are only filled through promotions and this depends on whether there are suitable candidates.

Candidates who are called for interviews should make an attempt to prepare themselves and not take these interviews lightly.

There is always good response for jobs in the civil service and those called for interviews must appreciate this opportunity and do their best.

Q: The PSD has said that the retirement age for employees in the public sector may be further extended (retirement age has been extended by a year to 56). Is there any development on this?

A: We have done our study and submitted our recommendation to the prime minister. He has yet to inform us of his decision.

Q: Is there any truth to claims that many civil servants take up part-time jobs to supplement their income? What is the PSD's stand on this?

A: Civil servants should not take up part-time jobs. This is very clear. Especially now with the salary revision, we do not see why they should want to take up part-time jobs.

There is a ruling that if any civil servant wants to work part-time, he or she must get permission from the head of department.

The head must take into account whether there would be a conflict of interest and whether the civil servant would be able to cope.

Q: Do you have any message for civil servants out there?

A: My message is simple -- do your best and together we can make the country a better place to live in.

Farrah wants to do so much more

NSTP


Dr Farrah-Hani Imran keeps a busy schedule and says time management is the key to everything.

KUALA LUMPUR: She first served the nation 20 years ago in sports as a rhythmic gymnast, and today she is still continuing to serve the nation.

Last month, Dr Farrah-Hani Imran was appointed to the International Advisory Panel of the Non-Aligned Movement Institute of Empowerment for Women (NIEW) under the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry.

"I am honoured to be appointed as one of the newest and youngest members of the panel," said Dr Farrah.

"It is a pro-active international institute which arms its participants with knowledge, preparation and practical skills to deal with the challenges faced by women on a local and global scale.

"Being one of the 'youth' voices of the panel is a challenging experience. Most of the advisory panel members are older and more experienced."
She recalled the moment a senior member of the panel applauded her efforts with the statement "well done, girl". Dr Farrah, who turns 30 next month, chuckled in amusement.

It was a busy day at the hospital and the interview set her back a couple of hours, but this did not dampen Dr Farrah's energetic disposition and enthusiastic spirit.

While ordering a cup of caramel macchiato, she smiled for the camera, answered a few calls and enthused about her latest endeavours.

Two hours later, she touched up her lip-gloss and was off again, this time to study.

This was just another day in the life of Dr Farrah, who is a trainee lecturer in plastic and reconstructive surgery at Kuala Lumpur Hospital.

Dr Farrah hopes her efforts in NIEW and the Women's Aid Organisation will help empower Malaysian women to strive for a better future for themselves, their daughters and their granddaughters.

"Venturing into something new is always a challenging task, but it is the continuous effort of looking beyond yourself and pushing yourself a little further each time which enables you to reach greater heights."

But will Dr Farrah be up to the task? Long hours and dedicated effort is nothing new to her.

A young Farrah, at the age of 10, juggled schoolwork, gymnastics training, piano lessons and ballet classes.

She had represented Malay- sia at the regional SEA Games and saw action at the 1993 World Rhythmic Gymnastics championships in Spain.

Today, she has no less on her plate.

Between studying for her Master's degree and her duties at Kuala Lumpur Hospital, she has not neglected her passion for painting and sketching, and her interest in the Malaysian Nature Society.

Her days are full and her nights just as long. How does she find the time to do it all?

"Time management is the key to everything," said Dr Farrah who speaks five languages.

"At the hospital, I have the privileged opportunity of learning from senior consultants and specialists.

"And my role model is our Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil."

Dr Farrah has seen tremendous change in the mindset of Malaysians when it comes to plastic and reconstructive surgery.

"While people are more open to medical advances now, there are still stigmas within our culture that need to be done away with."

She was referring to the need for psychiatric help among the mentally ill.

"There are pressing needs within our community which need proper attention, without the thought of malu lah.

"I speak my mind, and would love to be a voice for the people."

Dr Farrah said she might venture into politics in the future but for now she is focusing on her Master's.

"I'm happy where I am now and am looking forward to doing so much more," she said.

"Everyone needs to find themselves, in their own time.

"I was taught years ago to give 100 per cent inside and outside the office.

"The best surgeons I have met are the ones with active lifestyles."

And she is still associated with sports, looking forward to the Korat SEA Games in Thailand in December.

Dr Farrah will not be donning her leotards and prancing on the competition floor.

She will serve the nation as a team doctor to the Malaysian contingent. She believes this would complete her SEA Games journey she started 20 years ago.

Let’s book the culprits

The Star

On The Beat
By WONG CHUN WAI

Those highlighted in the A-G’s report for mismanagement of funds, if found guilty by the ACA, should be penalised, not merely transferred to another desk. Taxpayers want to see real punitive action.

JUST before the long Hari Raya break began last week, the word in Putrajaya was that the Anti-Corruption Agency would pick up several government officials once the celebrations are over.

By tomorrow, the majority of these officials would be back to work. The ACA said it had finalised its investigations into questionable deals involving officials highlighted in the Auditor-General’s report recently.

So, can Malaysian taxpayers see some arrests this week or the subsequent weeks now that the holidays are over?

It has been reported that the officials being investigated were from at least two ministries said to have bought equipment that were “overly priced”, causing the government losses of millions of ringgit.

Malaysians would certainly like to see the culprits hauled to court as we are fed up with the mismanagement of public funds.

We taxpayers would certainly like to know the person or persons responsible for using our money to pay RM224 for a RM32 set of screwdrivers.

Let’s also see the faces of those who approved RM1,146 for a set of pens costing RM160 and RM5,700 for a car jack worth RM50, as outlined in the 2006 A-G’s report.

The Government also paid RM8.36mil more than the market price to buy items, including technical books, for the National Youth Skills Institutes.

Two helicopters worth RM117.76mil purchased by the police air wing could not be used as they did not meet specifications, yet another RM15.4mil was spent to train pilots to fly these helicopters.

The Customs Department under-utilised its RM290mil information technology system but was planning to spend another RM451.30mil on a new system.

Trail of abuse

Surely there must be a trail that reveals misdeeds that the ACA can track and book these culprits.

It has been reported that the ACA probe would be centred on three aspects. One was whether government officers had received bribes from parties in the private sector.

The agency was also investigating if anyone had made false claims and also if those who had been recorded as having received money had actually received it.

The investigation, it was reported, would also ascertain if the number of items supplied to the government department or agency concerned matched the numbers ordered.

We understand and appreciate the necessity of the ACA to cover their tracks to ensure a solid case against the offenders but we hope there will be quick action against those responsible.

It would also be meaningless if only the ikan bilis or small fries are arrested in this exercise. The ministries should at least apologise for these fiascos if the senior officials who once headed these ministries have been transferred to other agencies or bodies.

The refusal to take responsibility seems to be an ugly culture of some of our senior officers, who prefer to maintain their silence in the hope that such controversies would blow over once the media lose interest.

Not many senior officials have resigned for their failures, unlike those in Japan, despite Malaysia having adopted the Look East policy for over 20 years. It doesn’t help that among civil servants, some perceive that their political masters are not clean and had probably made more on the take.

But Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has sent word down that civil servants who waste public funds should be punished and, if there are elements of corruption, they should be charged.

He has told his listeners, including editors, that he encouraged media reports highlighting such abuses and wanted action taken.

It has been a double-edged sword for Pak Lah as such openness has caused much uneasiness among the powerful and influential, who are not used to such scrutiny from the top. While there have been similar A-G reports in the past, the standard practice of leaving it to the ACA to probe has shown little, if any, results.

Dented image

The opposition has also used the A-G reports to hit out at the leadership and, as a result, has dented the leadership’s image. Certainly there would be a political price, especially in urban areas, during the elections.

But without doubt, Pak Lah is determined to go after those who do not practise good governance in government.

For a start, the ministries and agencies must improve their internal audit systems of checks and balances. They must learn to have more efficient controls on financial expenditures as they need to realise that the A-G would eventually catch up on them.

A strong message from the leadership that those who foul up would be punished should help inculcate such a working culture. Certainly there should be preventive action but the public rightly wants to see punitive action too.

It is no good merely transferring offenders, particularly those suspected of graft, to another section or other agencies.

A few years back, a complaint was made against a Customs officer who asked for money without issuing a receipt and, although the case was highlighted by the media, the person was merely transferred to another desk.

Malaysians want to see action and offenders penalised. That’s surely fair.

Act tougher against errant senior officials

The Star

Sunday Star Says

THE Anti-Corruption Agency is understood to be finalising investigations involving some senior government officials in at least two ministries, as mentioned in the recent Auditor-General’s report.

Once more, it is disappointing that more public officials have been implicated in issues of graft. However, conscientious work by the ACA should make up for some loss in confidence, esteem and morale that charges of corruption inevitably bring.

It should not matter that senior officials have been implicated, other than the obvious wastage of human resources implied. All public officials must always be accountable to the public interest, and so long as the ACA conducts its investigations professionally, its findings must be respected and acted upon.

Government officials know what is expected of them in the discharge of their duties. They also know, or at least should know, that their actions must always be above reproach and seen to be so. Anything less or suspect invites and deserves an inquiry.

The current investigation concerns the overpricing of equipment purchased, and covers the prospect of conflict of interest in the award of contracts for the purchases. ACA investigations need to look into various related aspects to ascertain the culpability of the individuals concerned.

If the charges are proven against these individuals, justice demands swift and judicious action against them. But if the investigation clears any suspects, their status should also be made clear. ACA actions must always be lawful and ethical at every stage.

All proper investigations need to arrive at distinct, unambiguous findings. There should not be any “grey areas” any more than “no go areas”, because the ACA must not be impeded in its work. Any attempt to distract or deflect its investigations is itself an offence.

In the process, the seniority of suspected individuals must never be an obstacle to investigations or to sentencing upon conviction. On the contrary, the more senior the public official who is charged and convicted, the more severe the penalty should be.

Senior officials are not only expected to understand the consequences of their actions better, they are also held in greater trust and esteem by colleagues and the public. Natural justice requires stronger punitive and deterrent action against their wrongdoing.

Good service was his motto

The Star

By M. KRISHNAMOORTHY

Home Ministry secretary-general Tan Sri Aseh Che Mat, the man who made it possible to renew one’s passport in an hour and get the MyKad in 24 hours, is calling it a day after serving the civil service for 34 years.

FOUR years ago, the newspapers published reports with pictures of people waiting in long lines for their passports to be processed at the Pusat Bandar Damansara Immigration office counters.

The following day Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi made a surprise visit to the office, and with him was Tan Sri Aseh Che Mat.

After the visit, the PM asked Aseh, who was secretary-general of the Home Ministry, to do something about the problem.

He did, and thanks to Aseh, applying for or renewing a passport these days is now a breeze. It takes about an hour to get the passport done.

Saying goodbye: Aseh packing up his belongings at the office last week. He believes the civil service must be equipped with the right attitude to serve the people competently.

He also set out to make the process of getting the MyKad as painless as possible to the public. Now, the MyKad can be issued within 24 hours.

These are just some of Aseh’s initiatives in his quest to ensure that the departments under his ministry serve the public in the most efficient manner. The public had long suffered the inconvenience of queuing up hours at both the Immigration and Registration counters, and Aseh was determined to put a stop to it.

Immediately after the Prime Minister left that day, Aseh summoned immigration officials to a closed-door meeting.

Recalling the events of that meeting, he said: “They gave all the excuses for the long lines.”

After patiently listening to them, he said, he told them bluntly: “The public do not want to know your problems, they want their problems attended to efficiently and without any delay.”

He said he also reminded them of their client's charter and emphasised that: “Customer service satisfaction means delivering the service in a way that leaves the customers feeling appreciated, respected and cared for.”

To make sure that the officers, including those from two other departments under his Ministry (Rela and the Registrar of Societies), were kept on their toes, he conducted spot checks to keep track of them. And it was no mean feat, as his portfolio covers one of the Government's largest delivery system, with Rela's 475,000 employees and volunteers, Immigration checking in 20 million visitors entering and exiting, the Registration Department issuing about 20 million Mykads, and the ROS monitoring thousands of societies annually.

Before the Internal Security Ministry was established, the police, prisons, civil defence, and narcotics also came under his portfolio.

Aseh, who retired on Friday after serving the Government for 34 years, has, in the past seven years as the Home Ministry secretary-general, put Malaysia on the world map by introducing the multipurpose Mykad, electronic passport and the auto gate at this country's major entry points.

He also initiated the adoption of the biometric version of the smart passport and the online visa application process, the foreign workers biometric monitoring system, and the I-kad for foreign students, workers and expatriates.

But he admitted that he did not do it all alone as he had a team of leaders with vision who helped to implement the projects.

While sorting out his stuff prior to leaving the office, he explained that delivering the service went “beyond the smile and a simple thank you”.

“Today’s customers are more exposed and have high expectations. To deliver a courteous service, service personnel need to be able to communicate with empathy, competence and commitment towards the customers,” he said.

“I repeatedly tell my officers that customers do not want to fill too many forms and go through red tape for approvals.”

Prior to becoming secretary-general, Aseh was the Immigration Department’s director-general. While holding the job, he innovated on several processes and cut short the application process for maids.

No doubt, his concern for improving the quality of the civil service stemmed from the fact that he was secretary-general of a ministry, but it could also be due to his position as president of the Administrative and Diplomatic Service Association.

Aseh has reminded his association members, who form the cream of the civil service, that: “It's those who serve the people who need to be nurtured to assure organisational success.

“Our job is to ensure that the civil service is equipped with the right attitude to serve the people competently.”

On his plans for the future, this father of four (three boys and one girl) said: “I would like to spend time building up my family as I may have neglected them in the past while serving the country.”

But he is also “open to anything in which I can continue to serve the people,” he said, adding that he has been appointed chairman of the cooperative that caters to Rela members.

Aseh said he leaves the service with about 100 leave days forfeited.

“In all my years of service, I only took leave for Haj and other important family concerns. To me, service to the people is my top priority.”