SEPANG: Chief Secretary to the Malaysian Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar (pic) expects the first quarter (Q1) performance report for 27 secretaries-general to be presented to him in early May this year as part of efforts to institutionalise a more dynamic and data-driven public service monitoring system.
He said the reports mark a critical milestone in fully implementing the Demerit Performance Evaluation (Deep), a strategic control mechanism designed to elevate accountability and governance standards across the civil service.
"Deep goes beyond traditional annual assessments. It provides a fairer and more flexible system through continuous performance monitoring on a monthly, quarterly, and semi-annual basis," he said in his speech at the Round Table Session with the Chief Secretary to the Government on the National Good Governance Agenda here on Thursday (April 24).
Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki, Immigration director-general Datuk Zakaria Shaaban and Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) chairman Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai, along with senior public service leaders, policy planners and governance experts also attended today's event, where the strategic direction of the national good governance agenda was discussed.
Shamsul Azri said Deep introduces a "remerit" element that not only penalises underperformance but also rewards positive improvements and consistent compliance with governance benchmarks.
The mechanism, which supports the Public Service Reform Agenda (Arpa), is structured around two core components - demerit and remerit - assessed through three performance dimensions: Generic (75%), Functional (15%), and Survey (10%).
The Generic Dimension includes seven key indicators such as operating and development expenditure efficiency, pre-implementation project status, delayed projects, and misconduct reporting, while the Functional Dimension reviews three high-impact programmes from each ministry, and the Survey Dimension is based on internal staff feedback.
Shamsul Azri said a pilot programme involving 13 secretaries-general was conducted in 2024, with full roll-out across ministries starting January this year, while engagement sessions with ministry officers were held in the first quarter to coordinate the implementation phase.
"Deep has proven to be an enabler under Arpa. It covers financial management, integrity, leadership, and programme effectiveness, serving as a push factor towards a more transparent and outcome-based public service," he stressed.
He also highlighted several other key Arpa initiatives that reflect the government's commitment to good governance, including the Public Administration Efficiency Commitment Act, the Public Service Remuneration System (SSPA), and the Public-Private Partnership Master Plan 2030.
"These initiatives are not just slogans. They are structural reforms that will define how our public service operates and performs for years to come," he said. – Bernama
