PUTRAJAYA: Human Resources Minister Steven Sim has this advice for his staff members: Be brave enough to voice your opinions and don’t follow your leaders blindly.
Sim emphasised the need for fresh perspectives and proposals to improve the ministry.
“In our culture, sometimes we take it for granted that leaders are always right and cannot be criticised, even if they are wrong.
“However, loyalty to a leader does not mean we cannot offer advice or clarification when we see problems,” he said during the ministry’s new year mandate at Menara Perkeso here yesterday.
Sim said civil servants under the ministry have a tremendous responsibility to safeguard and manage the people’s resources.
“We must be brave to give different views to the leaders.
“If you see something wrong, provide advice, guidance and reprimand. As the minister, I will stand by you,” he said.
Sim added that the officers of various departments guide him in his role as minister.
“Those in management should also have an attitude of accepting different views from employees,” he said, adding that different opinions spur the development of society and the nation.
Meanwhile, Sim said the ministry was not focusing on new projects but would continue improving ongoing initiatives in the spirit of 3K: Kebajikan (welfare), Kemahiran (skills) and Keberhasilan (achievements).
“We must continue working so others have no excuse to use slander or defamation. Our achievements have already been recognised; we must keep going,” he said, adding that this applies to all 15,000 ministry employees.
Sim also said the ministry will continue working on laws to protect gig workers, which require more fine-tuning.
There will also be a focus on reforming 28 laws under the ministry to ensure that they are current and meet international standards, he added.
He urged staff members to provide clear information to those who come through the doors of any department or agency under the ministry.“Take the initiative to provide guidance to those who seek help, rather than shifting the responsibility to other departments or leaders,” Sim said, adding that there should be “no wrong door”.
Also present at the event were Deputy Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Mohamad and secretary-general Datuk Azman Mohd Yusof.
