PETALING JAYA: The governance reform agenda and public financial management under the 13MP must come with serious planning and clear target implementations, say key stakeholders.
Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Services (Cuepacs) secretary-general Abdul Rahman Nordin said the government should come up with a clear action plan and timelines to implement their initiatives to boost good governance.
“Regular assessments should be carried out to track progress and ensure the aspiration is achieved,” he said when contacted yesterday.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim when tabling the 13MP vowed to improve good governance based on three core principles to enhance service delivery.
The three priorities are to institutionalise an efficient and effective government, provide people-centric services, and ensure fiscal strength and impactful public spending that reaches targeted groups.
Abdul Rahman said rather than working alone, the government should engage stakeholders – the private sector, non-governmental organisations and local communities – to gather feedback on how to improve good governance.
Malaysia Corruption Watch (MCW) president Jais Abdul Karim said while the emphasis on good governance as a central agenda of the government is a positive step, such reforms cannot remain as rhetorics or mere slogans.
“It must be translated into a concrete implementation plan, with clear lines of responsibility and transparent mechanisms for measuring success,” he said.
MCW also called on the government to explain which ministry will be responsible to monitor the issue of good governance and lead the implementation of its reforms.
KRA Group director of strategy Amir Fareed Rahim said good governance must be enhanced to ensure any form of leakages, especially in government projects were minimised.
“If not, you will not be able to maximise value creation in the economy. Corruption destroys value creation in an economy.
“There must also be some form of check and balance mechanisms as well as incorporating such values-based systems in education,” he added.
He said the government should aim to improve public delivery service through artificial intelligence (AI), adding the move can reduce cost, boost transparency and governance.
