Politicians 'less dependent on civil servants'

NSTP

PUTRAJAYA: Today's politicians are less dependent on civil servants for advice as they are better educated and "almost experts" at their duties.

Former chief secretary to the government Tan Sri Dr Sallehhuddin Mohamed said this was a far cry from the years after independence. "At that time, government officers really played a role as advisers (on policy formulation).

"Now, politicians depend less on senior officers for policy advice as they remain at their ministry for a long time until they become almost experts in that ministry.

"For civil servants, this means that they must continuously upgrade themselves, increase their knowledge and be incorruptible. They must show excellence in their management and handling of responsibilities," he said yesterday after receiving the National Institute of Public Administration (Intan) Fellow Award 2007.

The award was presented by Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan at a graduation ceremony for 742 civil servants from the professional and management, and diplomatic and administrative groups, who completed management science and public administration courses at Intan.
The Intan Fellow Award honours individuals who have contributed to the nation, especially in public service and administration.

Sallehuddin said civil servants and politicians today had a different and more challenging relationship. This required mutual respect for each other and understanding of each other's roles.

Sallehuddin, whose career with the civil service and government statutory bodies spanned 41 years, said he continued to follow developments in the civil service and political arena closely.

He said it was critical that senior government officers and politicians who dealt with one another enjoyed good relations while civil servants must abide by the principle of neutrality, regardless of the political issues of the day.

In his time as chief secretary (from June 15, 1984 to Feb 1, 1990), Umno split into Team A and Team B (1987), former lord president Tun Salleh Abbas and other judges were sacked (1988), and the mid-1980s financial crisis took place.

Special dept for disabled, kids and senior citizens

The Star

SUBANG JAYA: The government plans to set up a department to look into the welfare of disabled, children and senior citizens.

Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil said that such a department would help ensure that services were delivered efficiently.

To be named Department for the Disabled Development, she said that certain procedures had to be implemented such as the drawing up of the Bills that needed to be tabled and passed in Parliament.

“It is expected to be drawn up and tabled in Parliament by the year's end,” she said while launching the National Disabled Day 2007 at Sunway Pyramid Convention Centre here yesterday.

The ministry has also submitted proposals to the Housing and Local Government and Transport ministries concerning matters pertaining to access for disabled persons, she said.

She later presented awards in various categories.

The special award for the most excellent disabled person went to Dr Ng Chee Kyun, 32, who overcame cerebral palsy to obtain a PhD in Communications and Networking from UPM and is now working at Mimos Bhd.

Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort in Kota Kinabalu won the award for the most disabled-accessible hotel, while 1-Utama in Petaling Jaya won the award for the most accessible shopping complex.

Omar kekal Presiden CUEPACS

Utusan Online

Oleh: ZULKIFLI ABDULLAH

KUALA LUMPUR 3 Dis. – Omar Osman, 56, tidak dicabar dan terus diberi kepercayaan untuk menyandang jawatan Presiden Kongres Kesatuan Pekerja-Pekerja Di Dalam Perkhidmatan Awam (CUEPACS) pada pemilihan 11 Disember ini.

Apa yang menarik, kemenangan tanpa bertanding bagi jawatan utama itu mencatatkan sejarah sebagai yang pertama dalam tempoh 30 tahun.

Sebelum ini jawatan peneraju kesatuan induk sektor awam itu menyaksikan pertandingan setiap tiga tahun sekali.

Kali terakhir jawatan Presiden dipertandingkan ialah pada 2004 apabila Nordin Abdul Hamid berjaya mempertahankan jawatannya mengalahkan Presiden Kakitangan Am MARDI, Ramli Omar .

Kemenangan mutlak Omar diperoleh apabila tiada calon lain tampil mengemukakan pencalonan selepas tarikh akhir pada 29 November lalu.

Bagaimanapun bagi jawatan-jawatan utama lain dalam pemilihan pucuk pimpinan CUEPACS sempena Konvensyen Tri-tahunan ke-24 ini memperlihatkan saingan sengit.

Bagi jawatan Timbalan Presiden, enam calon beradu nasib manakala jawatan Setiausaha Agung pula menyaksikan pertandingan satu lawan satu.

Begitu juga dengan pemilihan tiga calon untuk mengisi jawatan Timbalan Setiausaha Agung dengan tujuh calon termasuk dua penyandang mempertaruhkan sokongan 1,200 perwakilan.

Penyandang jawatan Timbalan Presiden, Azih Muda yang juga Presiden Kesatuan Pekerja-Pekerja Pihak Berkuasa Tempatan Semenanjung Malaysia (Anulae) dicabar oleh enam pemimpin kesatuan sekerja lain.

Mereka ialah Hussain Mohd. Yasin (Kesatuan Kakitangan Am Universiti Malaya), Zainal Ismail (Kesatuan Pekerja-Pekerja Lembaga Air Perak), Ramli Omar (Kesatuan Kakitangan Am MARDI), Ibrahim Ahmad (Kesatuan Pegawai-Pegawai Kastam Semenanjung Malaysia) dan Anuar Ibrahim (Kesatuan Perkhidmatan Perguruan Malaysia).

Dalam pemilihan kali ini, tumpuan sudah tentu kepada jawatan Setiausaha Agung dengan menyaksikan pertandingan dua penjuru antara penyandang jawatan, Ahmad Shah Mohd. Zin dengan Presiden Kesatuan Pekerja-Pekerja Perbadanan Kemajuan Negeri Selangor, Ab. Rahman Abdan.

Pada pemilihan 2004, Ahmad Shah dipilih memegang jawatan itu selepas mengalahkan penyandang jawatan, Jamilah Harun.

Tidak kurang menariknya ialah jawatan Timbalan Setiausaha Agung apabila dua orang penyandang, Lok Yim Pheng dan Aris Baginda dicabar oleh lima calon lain.

Mereka ialah Adnan Mat, Ku Azmi Ku Ibrahim, Kang Bee Leng, Mohd. Sabri Abdu. Samad, Mahamad Bahrum dan Zainal Abidin Shaik Dali.

Bagi jawatan Setiausaha Kewangan, Samuel Devadan dari Kesatuan Perkhidmatan Teknik Semenanjung Malaysia menang tanpa bertanding manakala jawatan Timbalan Setiausaha Kewangan melibatkan dua calon iaitu Ja’apar Mansor dan Lokman Mohamed.

Menurut Ahmad Shah, konvensyen itu akan berlangsung di Wisma MCA dari 10 hingga 12 Disember ini dengan majlis perasmiannya akan disempurnakan oleh Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Sementara itu, proses pengundian akan berlangsung pada 11 Disember dan keputusan akan diumumkan pada keesokannya.

10 nama tentera cedera diumum

Berita Harian

LANGKAWI: Angkatan Tentera Malaysia semalam mengeluarkan senarai nama anggota tentera yang tercedera ketika membuat latihan penerjunan sempena majlis pembukaan pertunjukan udara sempena Pameran Antarabangsa Udara dan Maritim (Lima 2007) di sini kelmarin yang menyebabkan tiga anggota tentera maut.

Sepuluh anggota tentera dari Pasukan 10 Briged Para dari Kem Terendak, Melaka yang cedera itu ialah Armizi Yusairi, 25; Suraya Ali, 23; Rosmidah Suman, 21; Agilendeswaraj, 22; Moggie a/k George, 30; Asimas Ahmad, 22; Rohani Nordin 21, Zaliza Zakaria, 23; Mohd Ridzwan Yusof, 23 dan Noor Zakirul Zahadil, 23.

Mohd Ridzwan dan Noor Zakirul dibenarkan keluar dari hospital Langkawi semalam, manakala tujuh lagi masih berada dalam wad termasuk Suraya yang kini dirawat di Unit Rawatan Rapi (ICU). Zaliza pula dirawat di Hospital Sultanah Bahiyah (HSB), Alor Star. Mereka dilaporkan stabil.

Dalam kejadian jam 10.30 pagi kelmarin, 138 daripada 160 anggota Pasukan 10 Briged Para dari Kem Terendak Melaka membuat penerjunan latihan dari dua pesawat Tentera Udara Diraja Malaysia (TUDM) C130 apabila angin kencang tiba-tiba berlaku menyebabkan 20 penerjun tersasar jauh daripada sasaran di Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Langkawi dan mendarat di laut bersebelahan lapangan terbang itu.

Kejadian itu menyebabkan tiga anggota termasuk dua anggota wanita maut, manakala yang lain cedera.

Anggota tentera yang terbunuh ialah Renjer Siti Hajar Yakub, 24, Prebet Nurul Wahida Mohamad Yunus, 20, dan Trooper Raimond Duncan, 25.

Sementara itu, Ali Mat Shah, 57, bapa kepada Suraya bersyukur kerana anaknya terselamat dan doktor menjangkakan akan pulih dalam tempoh beberapa hari lagi.

“Suraya kini stabil dan akan pulih dalam sedikit masa lagi. Sekarang pun Suraya sudah boleh bergerak” katanya ketika ditemui di hospital di sini, semalam.

Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Razak serta Menteri Besar Kedah, Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid adalah antara kenamaan yang melawat Suraya serta enam anggota tentera lain yang dirawat di hospital itu, semalam.

Ali yang bergegas ke sini dari rumahnya di Kota Bharu, Kelantan selepas dimaklumkan insiden itu berkata, dia amat terkejut apabila seorang pegawai tentera dari Kem Terendak memaklumkannya bahawa Suraya cedera ketika membuat latihan penerjunan.

Katanya, dia tahu Suraya akan membuat terjunan pada Lima 2007, selepas anaknya menelefon memaklumkannya Sabtu lalu.

“Setiap kali Suraya nak terjun, saya akan buat solat hajat dan berdoa semoga dia selamat,” katanya.

Sementara itu, seorang anggota tentera lelaki yang dirawat di hospital itu dan enggan namanya disiarkan berkata, beliau sedih apabila diberitahu tiga rakannya maut termasuk Nurul Wahida, kawan baiknya. - Bernama

SYED NADZRI: Hope yet to put shine back in teaching

NSTP

OLD pictures often tell a lot. And this group photograph of teachers at the Malay College Kuala Kangsar (MCKK) in 1970 should do well to inspire the country's education planners to chart a return to the bygone days of celebrated schooling.

It could provide an excellent point of illustration to the highly-anticipated second report card of the National Education Blueprint which will be released next month. Among other things, the document is expected to contain the progress bulletin of efforts being made to improve the teaching profession.

Take a good look at the 37-year-old picture with the names of the teachers captioned in its original form. It speaks for itself, so it's best to leave it at that, lest comments are taken in the wrong context and get misconstrued. The only mention that could be made, however, is that the headmaster then was Datuk Syed Abu Bakar Barakbah (seated eighth from left), sandwiched between chemistry specialist P.A. Norton on his right and historian Muzaffar Desmond Tate on his left.

They and the rest were among the many teachers of the old school serving throughout the country then whose dedication and teaching methods were exemplary.

Due to the many changes that have taken place in the country and its education system since 1970, it would be unfair and unrealistic to expect all of the nearly 340,000 teachers of today to have the same stature or personality.
But the saving grace is that the Education Ministry is fixing this and in the blueprint for 2006-2010 has identified the creation of better teachers as one of the main priorities.

That should be an A for effort.

For instance, there is the programme called the Malaysian Teaching Standard, launched six months ago, which aims to produce excellent teachers who are not only dedicated but also have intellectual minds. Among others, the system includes regular evaluation which will identify teachers in need of knowledge enhancement, skills and personality.

In an interview with this paper not too long ago, former education director-general Tan Sri Dr Abdul Rahman Arshad emphasised several times that teachers held the key to the country's future -- throwing a simple question to prove his point: "How can mediocre teachers produce the best students?"

And two months ago, Prof Datuk Dr Aminah Ayob, the new vice-chancellor of Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris, the country's only university of education, spoke about the Malaysian Educators Selection Inventory designed to select the most appropriate candidates for the profession.

Under this method, academic results are not the only criteria for selection because candidates will have to sit for an entrance test, after which they will be interviewed and assessed on confidence, communication skills, participation in co-curricular activities and other talents.

Efforts are also being made by the ministry to bring the shine back to the teaching profession so that it would no longer be regarded as "a job of the last resort".

Salaries and allowances, a sore point for many years, have been reviewed to the point that teachers are now said to be better paid than their counterparts in most other sections of the civil service.

It remains a hope at this stage for group photographs of teachers of today to look like the one taken in 1970.

Broom award: Act within the General Orders

NSTP

THE public appreciates the move by the Selangor menteri besar to improve the civil service in the state and punish those who do not perform.

However, whatever action he takes against the officers must conform to the General Orders.

The General Orders do not stipulate the giving of brooms as a form of punishment. On this matter, I cannot support him.

TI: Officials should declare assets

The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: Civil servants, including ministers, should make a public declaration of their assets, said the Transparency International (TI) Malaysian chapter.

In a press release, TI said that public perception of integrity and accountability were vital and thus the present practice of ministers declaring assets to the Prime Minister was not enough.

TI also said that for the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) to win public trust as an independent commission, it should be answerable only to Parliament.

It said this way, the ACA would be free to investigate complaints against public and private officials without any perceived intrusion from the Government.

It also urged the public not to vote for public officials who were perceived to be corrupt.

More emphasis for technical education

The Star

GENTING HIGHLANDS: The Education Ministry will give more emphasis to certain areas under the National Education Blueprint 2006-2010 next year.

Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said they included special, vocational and technical education.

“I think our monthly focus, which we have been doing since the launch of the blueprint in January this year, is the right approach,” he told reporters after opening the national convention on the blueprint at Institut Aminuddin Baki.

Hishammuddin had announced earlier that the blueprint’s six thrusts would be emphasised over various months, with rural education in February, cluster schools in March, smart schools in April and teachers in May.

“Having a monthly focus will make all the divisions work together and those who have been working in isolation work as a team,” he said.

He said the three-day convention involved all stakeholders including those at the ministry level.

“We want them to discuss the blueprint and what they have achieved according to the key performance indicators (KPI), as well as identify the challenges faced in making the blueprint a reality,” he said.

In terms of the Ninth Malaysia Plan, Hishammuddin said that as of Oct 31 this year, 2,560 projects costing RM2.56bil were completed while another 3,050 costing RM6.54bil were being undertaken.

Another 3,706 projects worth RM12.55bil were in the pre-construction process, and expected to start in the first quarter of next year, he said.

He said that as of Nov 15, the ministry had spent RM1.95bil or 64.9% of the RM2.24bil allocated under the Development Expenditure.

Kakitangan Kerajaan wajar dibayar bonus

Harakah Daily

Pengumuman Kerajaan untuk tidak membayar bonus kepada kakitangan kerajaan bagi tahun 2008 pada awalnya tidaklah mengejutkan kerana inisiatif menaikkan gaji sehingga hampir menyamai 1-4 bulan gaji bagi kakitangan awam.

Tetapi apa yang sangat mengejutkan ialah kenaikan harga hampir semua barang keperluan sehingga ada yang melebihi 10 peratus kenaikan.

Walaupun sehingga kini pihak yang berwajib berhempas-pulas memastikan harga barang keparluan adalah dalam kawalan, tetapi adakah keperluan sesetengah pihak bukan kerajaan untuk turut berkongsi nikmat kenaikan gaji ini dinafikan dengan sebegitu sahaja.

Sesungguhnya hampir semua kakitangan awam yang sudah berangan-angan untuk berjoli dengan kenaikan gaji terpaksa merancang semula perbelanjaan demi memenuhi keperluan kos sara hidup yang turut meningkat.

Pendek kata nikmat kenaikan gaji ini sebenarnya tidaklah betul-betul dinikmati oleh kakitangan awam sedangkan keperluan rumah, anak-anak dan perbelanjaan lain perlu diberi perhatian.

Persoalan yang begitu ketara ialah rasional tidak diberikan bonus 2008 ialah kerana peruntukan itu dapat disalurkan pula kepada dana untuk faedah maksimum negara sebagaimana yang disebut oleh Menteri Kewangan kedua.

Adakah kerajaan tidak mempunyai peruntukan yang cukup kepada pembelaan golongan miskin sehingga perlu ditarik dari peruntukan bonus kepada kakitangan awam?

Bagaimana pula kerajaan mempunyai peruntukan yang cukup bagi membiayai koridor-koridor ekonomi di seluruh negara?

Bagaimana pula dengan tarif elektrik yang akan dinaikkan dan subsidi minyak yang akan ditarik sedikit oleh kerajaan?

Persoalan-persoalan inilah yang menjadi igauan buruk kepada kakitangan awam sedangkan pada masa yang sama bonus oleh pihak swasta dapat dinikmati oleh kakitangan swasta dengan berlipat kali ganda.

Pengumuman 4 tol tidak dinaikkan kadar bayaran ibarat satu rahmat, namun pengumuman peningkatan KDNK lebih melegakan dan pada masa yang sama kakitangan awam amat berharap dapat berkongsi pencapaian yang membanggakan ini. - mks.

Kami mohon elaun kritikal

Utusan Online

KAMI ingin meluahkan perasaan tidak puas hati mengenai elaun kritikal yang diberikan oleh pihak kementerian untuk pihak-pihak tertentu sahaja.

Mengapa tidak diselaraskan kepada semua kakitangan jabatan kesihatan? Mengapa hanya sesetengah pihak sahaja yang memperolehnya?

Mengapa pembantu perawatan kesihatan jururawat masyarakat, juru X-ray, juruteknologi makmal perubatan, jururawat gigi dan beberapa jawatan sokongan lain di jabatan kesihatan tidak dipertimbangkan?

Adakah kami juga, perlu berjuang seperti pembantu perubatan U29 dan jururawat U29 selama berbelas tahun? Adakah suara kami tidak cukup kuat untuk didengari oleh pihak atasan?

Adakah elaun kritikal yang diberikan kepada anggota yang berisiko tinggi dalam kerjanya sahaja, sedangkan kami juga daripada kalangan berisiko tinggi?

Pembantu perawatan kesihatan adalah orang pertama yang akan menerima sebarang risiko yang besar kerana mereka yang akan memandikan pesakit dan menjaga pesakit yang berisiko tinggi berpenyakit berjangkit seperti kusta, HIV, hepatitis dan sebagainya.

Manakala jururawat masyarakat pula dikatakan pembantu kepada jururawat dalam memberikan ubat dan suntikan kepada pesakit daripada kumpulan berpenyakit berisiko di samping terdedah kepada bahaya sekiranya mereka ini tercucuk jarum ketika merawat pesakit berkenaan.

Juru X-ray lagi berisiko tinggi kerana sering terdedah kepada radiasi sinar-X yang mungkin menyebabkan mereka terdedah kepada kanser yang boleh mengakibatkan maut.

Kebanyakan daripada kami, lebih terdedah kepada risiko yang merbahayakan nyawa jika kami mengendalikan pesakit yang berisiko tinggi.

Namun kami gagahkan juga, demi berkhidmat untuk rakyat. Ada di antara kami yang telah dijangkiti penyakit berbahaya ini dan ada juga di antaranya yang telah menghidapi kanser akibat terdedah dengan bahan kimia serta radiasi terlampau.

Ini kerana kami hanyalah kakitangan sokongan sahaja, jika ada apa- apa yang berlaku kepada kami maka tiada sesiapa pun yang akan prihatin, hanya sesama kami sahaja yang memahami keadaan yang perlu kami lalui.

Secara kesimpulannya kami sebagai kakitangan jabatan sokongan kesihatan juga berisiko tinggi, cuma kami bekerja di belakang tabir sahaja. Kami juga berkhidmat untuk negara memperjudikan nyawa kami. Tapi pengorbanan kami tidak dilihat kerana suara kami yang perlahan.

Justeru, kami berharap agar pihak tertentu dapat melihat risiko yang perlu kami tanggung dalam berkhidmat kepada rakyat dan negara.

Diharapkan elaun kritikal yang diberikan adalah secara adil dan saksama bagi semua pihak yang terlibat. Kami mohon pihak kementerian memberi perhatian terhadap masalah ini untuk kesejahteraan semua.

– TOLONG KAMI

Kuala Lumpur.