KUALA LUMPUR: The Government will ensure fairer participation for the people in government-linked companies, said Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai.
The MCA deputy president said the Government also wanted more ethnic groups to join the civil service.
“I have personally gone to the universities to ask students to sign up,” he said to a question from the floor during the Malaysian Chinese at the Political Crossroads forum here on Saturday.
He had been asked about MCA’s role in addressing the problems of racial imbalance within GLCs and the civil service.
At the same forum, MCA vice-president Gan Ping Sieu said it was difficult for Malaysia to have a two-party system because Pakatan Rakyat remained divided.
Gan said that although the Opposition coalition had come up with their own agenda under the Buku Jingga, there were fundamental values on which they had “agreed to disagree”, including the hudud law.
“Until now, they cannot offer a clear alternative manifesto.
“Also, if you look into the benchmark of the two-party system, there must be a shadow Cabinet.
“However, until now, there has yet to be one,” said Gan, adding that instead of a two-party system, a “three-party system” actually existed in Malaysia.
“The three parties are Barisan Nasional, PAS and the loose cooperation between PKR and DAP.
“PAS is a stand-alone party because it is clear on its ideology and ambitions,” he said.
Gerakan Youth secretary-general Dr Dominic Lau said that unlike Americans, who were proud to call themselves Americans regardless of their race, not many Malaysians could identify themselves as Malaysian first.
THE STAR ONLINE
Monday, February 20, 2012
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Time for civil service to shape up or ship out
OUR outspoken Prime Minister was spot-on when he stated quite plainly that the size of a ministry or a government department does not guarantee efficiency. Indeed, it can be too big to manage and incur higher expenditure without justification.
How often has the Government beefed up the police force, yet consumers, residents and shopkeepers seldom experience the presence of the police in many housing and commercial areas.
Unsatisfactory staff deployment and wastage of resources can be seen at the Immigration department, where three Immigration officers are stationed to hand out application forms when two of them could be working productively elsewhere.
Why are there huge crowds at the Immigration department?
It should have assigned more desk-bound officers to lend a hand, or engaged part-timers or junior workers to deal with form distribution.
Other government sections – from land offices and welfare centres to education departments and municipal councils – can be more productive and service-oriented if their workers pay heed to priorities and resolve problems related to public concerns.
Heads of departments ought to be hands-on in management and supervision.
The question of discipline arises when government servants disregard rules or take advantage of lax management.
The situation worsens when leaders do not set a good example.
There are many issues the Government has to address, issues such as punctuality, truancy, moonlighting, corporate governance and excessive public spending.
Budget over-runs are frequently reported, but no corrective or punitive measures are taken.
There is a lack of transparency and accountability, and serious faults are only discovered during the year-end audit.
Besides corruption and inefficiency, the Government has to look deeply into other problems besetting ministries
and government departments, including a breakdown in discipline, poor staff deployment and productivity, redundancy, and mismanagement.
It’s time the Government shows that it means business.
SODUSTA,
Subang Jaya.
THE STAR ONLINE
How often has the Government beefed up the police force, yet consumers, residents and shopkeepers seldom experience the presence of the police in many housing and commercial areas.
Unsatisfactory staff deployment and wastage of resources can be seen at the Immigration department, where three Immigration officers are stationed to hand out application forms when two of them could be working productively elsewhere.
Why are there huge crowds at the Immigration department?
It should have assigned more desk-bound officers to lend a hand, or engaged part-timers or junior workers to deal with form distribution.
Other government sections – from land offices and welfare centres to education departments and municipal councils – can be more productive and service-oriented if their workers pay heed to priorities and resolve problems related to public concerns.
Heads of departments ought to be hands-on in management and supervision.
The question of discipline arises when government servants disregard rules or take advantage of lax management.
The situation worsens when leaders do not set a good example.
There are many issues the Government has to address, issues such as punctuality, truancy, moonlighting, corporate governance and excessive public spending.
Budget over-runs are frequently reported, but no corrective or punitive measures are taken.
There is a lack of transparency and accountability, and serious faults are only discovered during the year-end audit.
Besides corruption and inefficiency, the Government has to look deeply into other problems besetting ministries
and government departments, including a breakdown in discipline, poor staff deployment and productivity, redundancy, and mismanagement.
It’s time the Government shows that it means business.
SODUSTA,
Subang Jaya.
THE STAR ONLINE
Friday, February 10, 2012
Armed forces are paid better than civil servants, says Abdul Latiff
KUCHING: The Malaysian Armed Forces have got a better deal compared to civil servants under the Public Service Remuneration Scheme (SBPA).
Defence Deputy Minister Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad said the salary scales for the Armed Forces were higher under the same entry point.
He said like other public jobs, the qualification required to join the Armed Forces was Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM).
However, he said, the basic pay for the rank of private based on the SPM qualification was higher than those in other sectors.
“Now the starting salary for an army private is RM1,125 a month, which is the best. Those who started on a private’s scale also have the option to serve for 27 years now. If a private started at the age of 18, he can retire at 45 under the new scheme,” he told a press conference at Penrissen camp here yesterday.
Abdul Latiff, who earlier had a dialogue session with personnel from the three forces — Air Force, Navy and Army — said the implementation of the Armed Forces remuneration scheme was in accordance with Article 132 of the Federal Constitution, which placed the Armed Forces in the top list of public services.
He said the Defence Ministry had been looking at a new salary scheme for military personnel at all levels in line with the transformation being implemented in the armed forces generally.
He said the new scheme was being drawn up in recognition of the role played by the military.
Under the new scheme, a Regimental Sergeant Major could earned up to RM7,000 before retirement.
Abdul Latiff said generally soldiers in the country have no problem with the scheme, adding that they were paid their January salaries based on the new scheme.
THE STAR ONLINE
Defence Deputy Minister Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad said the salary scales for the Armed Forces were higher under the same entry point.
He said like other public jobs, the qualification required to join the Armed Forces was Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM).
However, he said, the basic pay for the rank of private based on the SPM qualification was higher than those in other sectors.
“Now the starting salary for an army private is RM1,125 a month, which is the best. Those who started on a private’s scale also have the option to serve for 27 years now. If a private started at the age of 18, he can retire at 45 under the new scheme,” he told a press conference at Penrissen camp here yesterday.
Abdul Latiff, who earlier had a dialogue session with personnel from the three forces — Air Force, Navy and Army — said the implementation of the Armed Forces remuneration scheme was in accordance with Article 132 of the Federal Constitution, which placed the Armed Forces in the top list of public services.
He said the Defence Ministry had been looking at a new salary scheme for military personnel at all levels in line with the transformation being implemented in the armed forces generally.
He said the new scheme was being drawn up in recognition of the role played by the military.
Under the new scheme, a Regimental Sergeant Major could earned up to RM7,000 before retirement.
Abdul Latiff said generally soldiers in the country have no problem with the scheme, adding that they were paid their January salaries based on the new scheme.
THE STAR ONLINE
Monday, February 6, 2012
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Proposal for civil servants in interior to get higher allowances
SIBU: Civil servants working in re-mote areas in the state could be getting higher allowances by next year.
Cuepacs deputy president Aziz Muda said it would forward to the Federal Government its request for an increment to be included in the New Public Service Remuneration Scheme (SBPA).
“We are drafting the proposed hike for all the 180 types of allowances which include Cost of Living Allowance (Cola), housing and regional allowances. We will be submitting it to the Government in June. We hope it will be approved and implemented this year,” he said at a press conference after a dialogue with Sibu Water Board Employees Union on Friday night.
Aziz was asked whether Cuepacs would look into the requests of civil servants working in remote areas who had requested for higher allowances, as prices of goods there were higher compared with those in urban areas due to high transportation charges.
“Our proposal for this increase in allowances fall under Pisa (Public Service Regional Allowance Plan) where we are proposing to restructure the whole scheme.”
He also said Cuepacs was thankful to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak for including three of its officials in the special committee to review the New Public Service Remuneration Scheme. The scheme has been drawing lots of complaints over its implementation.
“Our president, deputy president and finance secretary are the three who will work with others in the special committee to come up with a fair and just salary structure. We hope that during the three-month period till April 14, we can solve all the issues pertaining to the remuneration scheme.”
He added that Cuepacs had a formula for the special committee to look into, adding that it would be submitting five demands to improve the scheme.
Among the demands were a review of salary adjustment for those in Grade 54 and below, a review of salary for those in the maximum scale and also seniority to staff opting for the scheme.
“We also want a review of all the 1,300 service schemes under the Malaysian Remuneration Scheme (SSM) including other grades which are not covered under SBPA and for public servants be given salary increment according to the Dec 31, 2011 salary, before the salary adjustment under SBPA.”
THE STAR ONLINE
Cuepacs deputy president Aziz Muda said it would forward to the Federal Government its request for an increment to be included in the New Public Service Remuneration Scheme (SBPA).
“We are drafting the proposed hike for all the 180 types of allowances which include Cost of Living Allowance (Cola), housing and regional allowances. We will be submitting it to the Government in June. We hope it will be approved and implemented this year,” he said at a press conference after a dialogue with Sibu Water Board Employees Union on Friday night.
Aziz was asked whether Cuepacs would look into the requests of civil servants working in remote areas who had requested for higher allowances, as prices of goods there were higher compared with those in urban areas due to high transportation charges.
“Our proposal for this increase in allowances fall under Pisa (Public Service Regional Allowance Plan) where we are proposing to restructure the whole scheme.”
He also said Cuepacs was thankful to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak for including three of its officials in the special committee to review the New Public Service Remuneration Scheme. The scheme has been drawing lots of complaints over its implementation.
“Our president, deputy president and finance secretary are the three who will work with others in the special committee to come up with a fair and just salary structure. We hope that during the three-month period till April 14, we can solve all the issues pertaining to the remuneration scheme.”
He added that Cuepacs had a formula for the special committee to look into, adding that it would be submitting five demands to improve the scheme.
Among the demands were a review of salary adjustment for those in Grade 54 and below, a review of salary for those in the maximum scale and also seniority to staff opting for the scheme.
“We also want a review of all the 1,300 service schemes under the Malaysian Remuneration Scheme (SSM) including other grades which are not covered under SBPA and for public servants be given salary increment according to the Dec 31, 2011 salary, before the salary adjustment under SBPA.”
THE STAR ONLINE
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)