Shamsul Azri (centre), pictured with Border Control and Protection Agency director-general Datuk Seri Hazani Ghazali (right) at the Rantau Panjang ICQS complex on Jan 1, says approval processes that formerly took months have now been shortened to just days. – BERNAMApic
PUTRAJAYA: The salary increases for civil servants through the Public Service Remuneration System (SSPA), as well as the establishment of the Special Task Force for the Corruption Perception Index (CPI) and the Border Control and Protection Agency are among the initial achievements realised under the civil service reform agenda to date.
Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar said other achievements of the reform agenda included the signing of the Kuala Lumpur Declaration: A Joint Commitment by the Civil Service on Nov 24 last year, marking the first time in the nation’s history that all state government administrations signed and declared their commitment to implementing public service reforms nationwide.
"We have also introduced the demerit performance evaluation (DEEP) to ensure a fairer and more objective assessment system, starting this month,” he said when addressing the monthly assembly of the Prime Minister's Department here on Friday (Jan 3).
Also present were Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
Shamsul Azri added that the government had also undertaken bureaucratic red tape reform and the regulatory sandbox initiative via a circular issued on Nov 24.
"As of Dec 17, we have completed 47 projects, including efforts to expedite approval processes that previously took months to mere days, as well as increasing the number of Integrity Units in local authorities from 49 to 102, representing a 35% increase,” he said.
Touching on the achievements of the Madani administration, he noted that these included approved investments in the digital economy worth RM254.7bil from January to September last year, creating 159,000 job opportunities.
Under Anwar's leadership, Shamsul Azri said, Malaysia continued to record impressive economic achievements, with several international technology giants making significant investments in the country, including RM10.5bil by Microsoft, RM20bil by NVIDIA and YTL, and RM27bil by Oracle.
Additionally, the ringgit emerged as the top-performing currency in Asia, while the Retirement Fund Incorporated (KWAP) saw a 34-fold increase in net income, reaching RM9.7bil.
Inflation remained controlled at 1.9% as of August, while Permodalan Nasional Berhad (PNB) declared a dividend payout of 5.75 sen per unit for ASB, the highest payout in five years, he said.
Shamsul Azri also expressed his commitment to supporting the aspirations of the public service and the objectives outlined through various established mechanisms and channels.
"The Special Task Force on Agency Reform or STAR, chaired by me and comprising all secretaries-general and service heads, supported by chief reform officers in every ministry, will ensure all planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation, including follow-up and follow-through, are carried out optimally,” he said. – Bernama
