Definisi bonus, honorium berbeza

Berita Harian

SAYA ingin merujuk tulisan Azharin Khamis dari Kuala Lumpur mengenai tuntutan sagu hati Kongres Kesatuan Pekerja Dalam Perkhidmatan Awam (Cuepacs) dalam akhbar ini, 21 Mac lalu.
Selaku Presiden Cuepacs yang bertanggungjawab kepada lebih satu juta anggota sektor awam melalui kesatuan gabungan, saya berasa Azharin tidak memahami mengenai definisi bonus atau sagu hati (honorium) yang diperjuangkan Cuepacs.

Bonus adalah ganjaran atau imbuhan bagi anggota sektor awam atas prestasi, kualiti dan produktiviti kerja mereka yang baik pada satu-satu tahun itu, termasuk 2007.

Majlis Kongres Cuepacs memutuskan untuk tidak meminta bonus kerana kerajaan baru saja meluluskan semakan gaji kepada anggota sektor awam mulai 1 Julai lalu, walaupun semakan gaji adalah satu elemen yang berlainan kerana semakan gaji tidak dibuat setiap tahun seperti bonus.

Adalah tidak bijak Azharin mengaitkan semakan gaji dengan bonus atau honorium yang diminta. Cuba kita lihat kepada pihak swasta walaupun ada semakan atau kenaikan gaji pada tahun yang berkenaan melalui perjanjian bersama (CA) tetapi bonus tetap ada untuk kadar satu hingga tiga bulan.

Perbandingan gaji terendah yang ditulis sebagai RM820 dalam sektor awam tidak tepat. Gaji terendah sebenar dalam sektor awam bagi jawatan dalam Gred RI ialah RM647.51 dan tidak RM820 seperti didakwa. Malah, anggota sektor awam yang tinggal di rumah kerajaan juga tidak layak mendapat elaun sewa rumah RM180 sebulan dan tidak semua anggota sektor awam mendapat elaun sara hidup RM300 sebulan kerana kadarnya mengikut lokasi atau kawasan yang berbeza iaitu bandar, bandar kecil dan luar bandar.

Dengan itu jumlah purata gaji anggota sektor awam yang ditulis Azharin itu adalah tidak tepat dan mengelirukan anggota sektor awam dan rakyat Malaysia.

OMAR OSMAN,
Presiden Cuepacs,
Kuala Lumpur.

Elaun kritikal tak wajar ditarik balik

Berita Harian

TINDAKAN Jabatan Perkhidmatan Awam (JPA) menarik balik pemberian elaun kritikal kepada kakitangan awam khususnya guru yang mengajar ketukangan di sekolah menengah teknik seluruh negara, amat menyedihkan kami. Soal penghargaan dan kebajikan kepada kami guru yang mengajar subjek amali di bengkel diketepikan dengan penarikan balik elaun kritikal itu. Kami, guru yang menjalankan amanah kerajaan mendidik anak bangsa yang bakal keluar menjadi insan berkemahiran sesuai dengan matlamat PIPP (Pelan Induk Pembangunan Pendidikan) melalui peningkatan modal insan sepatutnya terus dihargai dengan mengekalkan pemberian elaun itu.

Apakah JPA dan Kementerian Pelajaran, tidak memandang tanggungjawab yang kami pikul ketika menjalankan latihan amali di bengkel. Risiko terdedah kepada kemalangan cukup besar, dengan jumlah pelajar yang agak ramai dalam setiap sesi amali menambahkan lagi tekanan dalam mengawal pelajar. Berbanding pelajar yang belajar dalam bilik darjah untuk subjek Sains dan Matematik dalam bahasa Inggeris, yang gurunya juga menerima elaun kritikal sedangkan kami pula dinafikan pemberian elaun kritikal.

Bukan niat untuk mengganggu elaun kritikal yang dinikmati rakan lain, tetapi saya sekadar ingin membuat perbandingan kepentingan dan risiko. Kedua-duanya penting dan kami yang mengajar ketukangan di bengkel lebih tinggi risikonya. Kami terdedah kepada bahaya renjatan elektrik, bahaya mesin tajam dan gangguan kesihatan akibat habuk dan debu.

GURU ASPIRASI GURU,
Kamunting, Perak.

Malaysians urged to train in India

The Star

INDIA is inviting Malaysian government officials and professionals to undergo fully sponsored training programmes under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) scheme, the Tamil Nesan reported on its front page.

Indian High Commissioner to Malaysia Ashok K. Kantha said the capacity-building training would be in various fields, including banking, Information Communication and Technology (ICT), audit and accounts, hydrology, management and journalism.

He said training under this programme was one of the important aspects of the multi-faceted relationship between India and Malaysia.

Since the early 1990s, 183 Malaysian candidates had participated in ITEC training programmes, he said.

Kantha also urged Malaysian students to take full advantage of various education schemes, particularly those under the self-financing scheme for medicine, dentistry, pharmacy and engineering.

He said the existing opportunities were not being fully used.

> The Youth and Sports Ministry said it would create the post of a “Special Officer” to look after the development needs of Indian youths in the absence of a parliamentary secretary.

Newly-appointed Minister Datuk Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the ministry was looking at a new mechanism to channel funding to sports associations in the states of Penang, Kedah, Perak and Selangor, reported Makkal Osai.

Act unfair to doctors

The Star

AS our Prime Minister announced his new Cabinet and as the unprecedented general election results unfolded before our eyes, what was clear to all Malaysians, regardless of race, gender, religion and profession, was that our destiny and objectives are the same. That is: equality, fairness and the ability to share and prosper together as one race in this great nation of ours.

One of the very important tasks ahead for the new Health Minister and the Cabinet to look at is the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act 1998 which came into force last year amid an outcry by private doctors throughout the country.

With the usual government modus operandi of implementation of similar regulations like the introduction of Fomema to monitor foreign workers' health and the proposed E-kesihatan to monitor transport workers' health which was later scrapped, the stakeholders i.e. the private doctors and even patients do not play any major part in its formation.

The threat of a RM300,000 fine for not registering is enough to send all private doctors scurrying for the registration forms. The concession was that the authorities will not use the Act without due care and disregard to the private practitioners and that its main objective is to weed out bogus doctors and unqualified practitioners.

It is now necessary to ask why is a fully qualified doctor from a local university with a valid annual practising certificate that qualifies him to practise professionally in this country as in the case of Dr Basmullah Yusom languishing in jail because of the PFHSA?

His only crime is of course failing to register his clinic as he is planning to move to another locality soon.

I speak for myself, but I also believe that I speak for a big majority of private doctors in this country, that the PFHSA should be repealed.

Most doctors, whether in government service or the private sector, have only one main objective in mind and that is only their patients' welfare and health first and foremost.

I am not suggesting that errant doctors or practices should not be regulated. But there are many Acts in place already to do that and the fact remains that the PFHSA has too many regulations that can be yielded and enforced in so many forms that many doctors are objecting too.

In all fairness, the PFHSA should also be renamed and revamped as the Facilities and Health Services Act without the word “private” as I believe that the same high standards should be demanded for all health facilities and services, be it private or government, as all Malaysians are equal under the law in this great nation of ours.

It is the fervent wish and hope of many doctors that this great injustice called the PFHSA is corrected swiftly and effectively by the new Cabinet in this dawn of a new era in Malaysian history.

DR JOHN TEO,
Kota Kinabalu.

14 klinik kerajaan dibuka sehingga 9.30 malam

Utusan Online

PUTRAJAYA 26 Mac – Kementerian Kesihatan hari ini memanjangkan waktu perkhidmatan 14 buah klinik kerajaan sehingga pukul 9.30 malam untuk memudahkan pesakit mendapatkan rawatan selepas waktu pejabat.

Menteri Kesihatan, Datuk Liow Tiong Lai berkata, selaras dengan pelaksanaannya, kerajaan bersetuju meningkatkan bayaran insentif selepas waktu pejabat untuk semua pegawai perubatan klinik-klinik berkenaan kepada RM80 sejam berbanding RM30 sebelum ini.

“Buat permulaan, 14 klinik iaitu di Alor Setar, Green Town (Ipoh), Anika (Klang), Selayang Baru, Seremban, Peringgit (Melaka), Mahmoodiah (Johor Bahru), Bandar Maharani (Muar), Kuantan, Kuala Terengganu, Kota Bahru, Kuching, Sandakan dan Putrajaya telah dikenal pasti untuk melaksanakan dasar ini.

“Ini bermakna klnik-klinik ini akan beroperasi sehingga 9.30 malam pada Isnin hingga Jumaat dan sehingga 12 tengah hari pada Sabtu,” katanya kepada pemberita di sini hari ini.

Kata beliau, lebih banyak klinik akan dipanjangkan waktu operasi sekiranya 14 buah klinik kesihatan perintis tersebut mendapat kunjungan yang tinggi pada waktu luar pejabat iaitu selepas pukul 5.30 petang.

Tiong Lai berkata, Kementerian Kesihatan memperuntukkan perbelanjaan tambahan sebanyak RM12.3 juta untuk menjayakan projek itu termasuk membayar insentif tambahan kepada pegawai perubatan terbabit.

“Pelaksanaan dasar ini dapat mengurangkan beban kerja di unit kecemasan hospital dan membolehkan pegawai perubatan memberi perkhidmatan yang lebih efektif kepada pesakit yang memerlukan rawatan kecemasan.

“Selain itu, pegawai yang terlibat akan berasa lebih bermotivasi untuk berkhidmat dan seterusnya memberi perkhidmatan yang berkualiti kepada pesakit dan rakyat,” katanya.

Menurut Tiong Lai, dasar itu bagaimanapun bukan sesuatu yang baru kerana Kementerian Kesihatan sebelum ini telah melaksanakan dasar seumpama itu di unit kemalangan dan kecemasan di 33 hospital kerajaan.

Bayaran insentif pegawai, pakar perubatan dilulus

Berita Harian

Oleh Azrina Ahzan

MENTERI Kesihatan Datuk Liow Tiong Lai mengambil-alih kementerian dari Presiden MCA Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting yang memangku jawatan itu di Kementerian Kesihatan baru-baru ini. - Foto Bernama

Kabinet setuju doktor kerja lebih masa pada Sabtu diberi ganjaran

PUTRAJAYA: Kabinet semalam meluluskan bayaran insentif kepada pakar dan pegawai perubatan serta kenaikan kadar bayaran kerja lebih masa untuk pegawai perubatan di unit kecemasan hospital seluruh negara sebagai usaha mengurangkan tempoh menunggu pesakit.

Berkuat kuasa serta-merta, pakar perubatan yang menjalankan pembedahan elektif (bukan kecemasan) pada Sabtu di 19 hospital kerajaan akan menerima bayaran RM200 sejam, manakala pegawai perubatan pula RM80 sejam.

Hospital terbabit ialah Hospital Kuala Lumpur, Kangar, Alor Star, Sungai Petani, Pulau Pinang, Taiping, Ipoh, Kota Bharu, Kuala Terengganu, Kuantan, Putrajaya, Selayang, Klang, Seremban, Melaka, Johor Bahru, Muar, Hospital Umum Sarawak dan Hospital Queen Elizabeth, Kota Kinabalu.

Kadar bayaran kerja lebih masa untuk pegawai perubatan di unit kecemasan hospital pula dinaikkan daripada RM30 kepada RM80 sejam.

Menteri Kesihatan, Datuk Liow Tiong Lai, berkata insentif itu adalah antara pendekatan bagi mengurangkan tempoh menunggu pesakit untuk menjalani pembedahan elektif.

"Permintaan terhadap perkhidmatan anesthesia (bius) dan pembedahan di hospital kerajaan terus meningkat menyebabkan pakar bius serta bedah memberi keutamaan kepada kes kecemasan yang membabitkan keselamatan nyawa.

"Ini menyebabkan pesakit yang memerlukan pembedahan bagi kes bukan kecemasan terpaksa menunggu lama, iaitu antara satu hingga enam bulan bergantung kepada jenis pembedahan," katanya pada sidang media selepas mempengerusikan mesyuarat pasca Kabinet pertamanya di sini, semalam.

Hadir sama, Timbalan Menteri, Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad; Ketua Setiausaha (KSU) kementerian, Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Nasir Mohd Ashraf dan Ketua Pengarah Kesihatan, Tan Sri Dr Mohd Ismail Merican.

Bilangan pembedahan yang dijalankan di hospital kerajaan meningkat 23 peratus daripada 636,867 pembedahan pada 2002 kepada 782,514 pembedahan pada 2006.

Liow berkata, Kabinet juga bersetuju memanjangkan waktu bekerja di 14 klinik kerajaan bagi membolehkan orang ramai mendapatkan perkhidmatan selepas waktu pejabat.

Katanya, waktu lanjutan itu ialah dari jam 5.30 petang hingga 9.30 malam setiap hari bekerja kecuali Ahad dan cuti umum manakala dari jam 8 pagi hingga 12 tengahari setiap Sabtu.

Klinik terbabit ialah Klinik Kesihatan Alor Star, Klinik Kesihatan Greentown, Ipoh; Klinik Kesihatan Anika, Klang; Klinik Kesihatan Selayang Baru, Selayang; Klinik Kesihatan Seremban; Klinik Kesihatan Peringgit, Melaka; Klinik Kesihatan Mahmoodiah, Johor Bahru; Klinik Kesihatan Bandar Maharani, Muar dan Klinik Kesihatan Kuantan.

Turut terbabit, Klinik Kesihatan Kuala Terengganu, Klinik Kesihatan Bandar Kota Bahru; Klinik Kesihatan Jalan Masjid, Kuching; Klinik Kesihatan Sandakan dan Klinik Kesihatan Putrajaya.

"Langkah memanjangkan waktu operasi ini sudah dilaksanakan di 33 hospital kerajaan dan melihat akan keberkesanannya memberi perkhidmatan kepada orang ramai, kementerian bersetuju langkah yang sama dilakukan di 14 klinik kerajaan. Bilangannya akan ditambah dari semasa ke semasa sekiranya ada keperluan," katanya.

Calon boleh pilih ujian PTK Mac, Ogos

Berita Harian

BAHAGIAN Pembangunan dan Penilaian Kompetensi (BPPK), Kementerian Pelajaran (KPM) ingin merujuk kepada surat 'Sumazauteam, Keningau, Sabah' yang disiarkan ruangan ini pada 17 Mac lalu, mengenai kakitangan Kementerian Pelajaran mohon duduki ujian Penilaian Tahap Kecekapan (PTK).

Kami ingin memaklumkan bahawa perkara yang dibangkitkan penulis mengenai pelaksanaan peperiksaan PTK 2007 iaitu peperiksaan pada Jun dan Ogos 2007. Tahun lalu, calon hanya dibenarkan menduduki PTK sekali saja sama ada Jun atau Ogos, ini kerana faktor berikut:

l Bilangan calon yang besar iaitu melebihi 200,000 pada setiap tahun, ia membabitkan urusan logistik yang kompleks seperti pendaftaran calon, pengurusan pembinaan item, pengurusan peperiksaan dan proses pengeluaran keputusan. Ia membabitkan lebih 1,000 pusat peperiksaan serta lebih 7,000 pengawas peperiksaan. Peperiksaan ini juga memakan masa selama lima hari meliputi 139 kertas (Umum dan Khusus).

l Kementerian membuat perancangan awal untuk menambah kekerapan PTK sebaik arahan mengenainya dikeluarkan Jabatan Perkhidmatan Awam (JPA). Bagaimanapun, kementerian memerlukan masa tiga hingga empat bulan untuk melaksanakan keseluruhan proses.

l Masalah tempat calon terutama di kawasan pedalaman yang menyulitkan penyampaian maklumat, masih ada sekolah di kawasan pedalaman yang tidak mempunyai akses internet.

l Peperiksaan PTK hanya dapat diadakan pada musim cuti persekolahan kerana ia membabitkan penggunaan premis sekolah sebagai pusat peperiksaan serta semua guru dan kakitangan dari Gred DG41 dan ke bawah. Pelaksanaan PTK selain waktu berkenaan akan melumpuhkan proses pengajaran dan pembelajaran di sekolah mahupun mana-mana institusi pendidikan di bawah Kementerian ini.

Pada akhir tahun pula, semua premis sekolah menjadi pusat peperiksaan bagi peperiksaan awam menyebabkan peperiksaan PTK, selain itu tidak sesuai diadakan pada Disember kerana akan mengakibatkan kelewatan pengeluaran keputusan. Oleh itu pada 2007 peperiksaan PTK hanya diadakan pada Jun dan Ogos; dan

l Keputusan PTK bagi calon yang menduduki peperiksaan pada Jun, tidak sempat dikeluarkan sebelum peperiksaan berikutnya pada Ogos. Dengan itu, calon diberi pilihan sama ada untuk menduduki PTK pada Jun atau Ogos 2007.

Bagaimana pun, mulai tahun ini, BPPK dapat mengadakan PTK lebih awal iaitu Mac dan Ogos. Oleh itu, bagi tahun ini dan seterusnya calon boleh menduduki kedua-dua sesi peperiksaan berkenaan bagi tujuan memperbaiki aras keputusan PTK mereka.

RUBAAYAH OSMAN,
Ketua Unit Perhubungan Awam,
bp Ketua Setiausaha,
Kementerian Pelajaran Malaysia,
Putrajaya.

Shape up or ship out, Islamic officers told

The Star

By SIM LEOI LEOI

PUTRAJAYA: Officers working with Islamic agencies must support Government policies or be prepared to leave their jobs.

Newly-appointed Minister in Prime Minister's Department Datuk Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said it was still not too late for these officers to "realise their ideals" elsewhere.

"This is a reminder for them for the sake of our ummah (citizens).

"The impression the public has of religious officers or those schooled in Islamic affairs is that they have closed minds, are intolerant of other opinions and are slow in implementing our policies.

"I want do away with this negative perception," he told reporters after being briefed on his duties by former minister Datuk Dr Abdullah Md Zin at his office here Thursday. Also at the ceremony was deputy minister Datuk Dr Mashita Ibrahim.

Zahid's portfolio includes managing religious affairs and agencies such as the Islamic Development Department (Jakim).

He said he wanted to use his professional background as an administrator to ensure that these Islamic agencies were more well-run.

"Together with my deputy's scholarly background in Islam, I am sure we can work together to revamp our image," he said.

Zahid said there was truth to reports that the non-Muslim community had been restless recently due to certain decisions taken by Islamic agencies.

"The Prime Minister has advised us to correct this image by explaining the teachings of Islam. We will fix this problem," he promised.

Mohamad Zabidi dilantik SUK Perlis

Berita Harian

KUALA LUMPUR: Timbalan Ketua Setiausaha (Kewangan), Kementerian Kesihatan, Mohamad Zabidi Zainal dilantik sebagai Setiausaha Kerajaan Perlis menggantikan Datuk Ismail Osman berkuat kuasa serta merta mulai semalam.

Ketua Setiausaha Negara, Tan Sri Sidek Hassan dalam satu kenyataan media di sini, semalam, berkata Mohamad Zabidi yang sudah berkhidmat hampir 27 tahun menggantikan Ismail yang dipindahkan ke Jabatan Perkhidmatan Awam (JPA) pada 24 Mac lalu.

Mohamad Zabidi, berkelulusan Sarjana Pentadbiran Awam dan Ijazah Sarjana Muda dalam bidang Pengajian Asia Tenggara daripada Universiti Malaya (UM) mempunyai pengalaman luas dalam bidang pentadbiran awam pada peringkat negeri dan pengurusan sumber manusia pada peringkat persekutuan menerusi kariernya di dalam Perkhidmatan Tadbir dan Diplomatik (PTD).

Antara jawatan pernah disandang sebelum dilantik menjadi Setiausaha Kerajaan Perlis ialah Ketua Penolong Pegawai Daerah (Pembangunan) Alor Gajah, Melaka; Ketua Penolong Pengarah Bahagian Latihan JPA; Timbalan Pengarah Bahagian Pembangunan Organisasi JPA; dan Pengarah Unit ISO 9000, Unit Pemodenan Tadbiran dan Perancangan Sumber Malaysia (MAMPU).

‘End the one-man show!’

NSTP

SEVERAL members of the City Hall advisory board have accused the board of being a one-man show and that the others have no say in it.

BN representative Dr Lee Chong Meng

Datuk Hakim Borhan, the mayor of Kuala Lumpur, is appointed by the Federal government

They claimed that the mayor of Kuala Lumpur, Datuk Hakim Borhan, is the only one who decides everything.

"Attending the board's meetings can be frustrating. Sometimes no one wants to give any feedback because it is useless. They do not have the power to change the policies," said Bukit Bintang BN representative Datuk Dr Lee Chong Meng recently.

Lee said the board meetings should be a platform for City Hall and BN representatives to work together in implementing programmes.

He stressed that it was time for City Hall to be more proactive as the BN had lost 10 of the 11 seats in the Federal Territories in the March 8 general election. The sole survivor is FT Minister Datuk Zulhasnan Rafique.

"The fate of city folk should not rest on one man's hand. It should be a joint decision between the mayor and the advisory board members," he said.

Lee said, currently, at board meetings, the mayor can override decisions made by the advisors.

"Because of this, some of the advisors remain silent during meetings. Some choose not to take part in discussions," he said.

At present, the board has 11 advisors who represent Umno, MCA and MIC. There are also representatives from non-governmental organisations. The role of the board is to advise the mayor on various issues affecting the daily lives of KL folk.

They meet every other month to discuss matters relating to the city's public transport system, social and community development, petty traders management, budget, environment and assessment rates.

"The opposition parties are eyeing positions in the advisory board. The BN should take note of that and make changes that will make us (board members) more relevant to the public," added Lee.

Lee also appealed to City Hall to review the advisors' allowances of RM150 for each meeting, which he said is a pittance.

Political analyst Khoo Kay Peng said Kuala Lumpur is unique as it is a Federal state without any assemblymen.

"Since the MPs have to also play the role of state assemblymen, they should be incorporated into the board," he said.

Khoo said since the people of KL had voted for a change, City Hall should change its operational style.

"City Hall is the servant of KL folk who had voted for a change. The local council has to change its operational method," said Khoo.

He said the board should be answerable to the people on the methods used to make policies and decisions.

The advisory board is based on the Federal Territories Act 1960. Under the Act, MPs are not allowed to be board members. Those chosen should be from the civil service who are well versed with the affairs of Kuala Lumpur. They can also be from the Finance Ministry and the Economic Planning Unit.

Khoo said the Act should be reviewed to allow MPs to be part of the board.

PSD moves to recover loans

The Star

BY SARBAN SINGH

SEREMBAN: The Public Service Department (PSD) wants all ministries and department heads to submit the names of employees who have taken study loans from the Government.

This is because many have not repaid their loans despite having been employed for several years now.

PSD director-general Tan Sri Ismail Adam said the details of the borrowers, including their place of work, should be submitted by April 7.

“We need to get defaulters to pay up so that others can benefit. Our records show that many loan recipients have either not been paying up regularly or have stopped paying despite the reminders and notices sent,” he said in an interview.

The directive was sent to all ministry secretaries-general and state secretaries on March 13.

It is learnt that some defaulters had not paid a single sen despite having graduated more than 10 years ago. Those who studied abroad were given interest-free loans amounting to RM300,000 but had somehow dodged legal action.

Ismail said the PSD began making deductions from the salaries of its own employees who had defaulted beginning last year and this has helped increase the recovery process.

“Now we want all ministries, government departments and state agencies to help us collect our dues,” he said.

The Government, irked by the attitude of several thousand borrowers who refused to service their loans, had in July last year issued an order that they would not be considered for promotion.

These included those blacklisted by National Higher Education Fund Corp (PTPTN), Mara and other government-linked corporations. However, the response was still poor.

A source said warnings that the 75% discount on the entire loan given to those who scored second-class upper degrees and above would be rescinded had also failed to get them to start paying up.

It is learnt that the defaulters owed the Government more than RM1bil. As of March last year, 438,775 owed the PTPTN some RM920mil.

Since it was established in 1997, the PTPTN has given out RM12.6bil in loans to students for diploma and degree courses.

As for the PSD, about 15,000 borrowers owed it some RM300mil. The amount owed to Mara was RM200mil.

PSD gave out RM3.03bil in study loans to some 145,000 students from 1987 to 2004.

The Higher Education Ministry has identified 40,573 borrowers who are working in government agencies or government-linked companies, who had taken loans from PTPTN.

Pegawai Wisma Putra harus kuasai bahasa utama dunia

Berita Harian

PUTRAJAYA: Menteri Luar, Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim, semalam meminta semua pegawai Wisma Putra meningkatkan penguasaan dalam pelbagai bahasa utama dunia, terutama Bahasa Inggeris.

Rais yang pernah menjadi Menteri Luar pada 1987 berkata, penguasaan bahasa pelbagai asing akan memberi kelebihan kepada pegawai diplomatik terbabit ketika mengadakan rundingan.

"Negara seperti India, China, Britain dan Amerika Syarikat mempunyai pegawai diplomat yang berkebolehan luar biasa berkaitan penggunaan bahasa antarabangsa dan perundingan.

"Bukan hanya Bahasa Inggeris yang patut kita tekankan, tapi bahasa seperti Mandarin untuk hubungan di Asia," katanya pada sidang media selepas mengadakan mesyuarat pertama dengan pegawai kementerian di Wisma Putra di sini, hari ini.

Hadir sama dalam mesyuarat yang berlangsung lebih dua jam itu ialah Setiausaha Kementerian Luar, Tan Sri Rastam Mohd Isa.

Rais, berkata beliau juga akan memastikan Wisma Putra terus memainkan peranan penting dalam usaha mengeratkan hubungan diplomatik dan perdagangan dua hala antara Malaysia dengan negara serantau.

Katanya, penekanan khusus akan diberikan kepada usaha meningkat pencapaian hubungan diplomasi Malaysia dengan negara lain.

"Apa yang penting bagi Kementerian Luar ialah mengeratkan hubungan Malaysia dengan Asean terlebih dulu dengan mencari keutamaan terpenting secara diplomasi.

"Oleh kerana Asean mempunyai identiti tersendiri, hubungan kita perlu berlandaskan kepentingan bersama," katanya.

Rais berkata, Wisma Putra juga akan meneliti semula peranan 104 pejabat kedutaan Malaysia di luar negara, terutama di negara Asean, bagi memastikan mereka dapat menterjemahkan dasar luar negara dengan tepat.

"Kita harus memastikan Kementerian Luar, Kementerian Perdagangan Antarabangsa dan Industri serta Kementerian Pelancongan harus bekerjasama untuk mencapai matlamat bersama untuk memajukan Malaysia," katanya.