MALAYSIA MUST TRANSFOM OR RISK BECOMING A FAILED STATE, SAYS PM

PUTRAJAYA, Oct 8 (Bernama) -- Malaysia must transform or risk becoming a failed
state, said Prime Minister Najib Razak.

In delivering his inaugural Razak Lecture, Najib said transformation could only
happen when three things were in place.

"The active participation and input of all stakeholders, an environment in which
key players are ready and able to take on the challenge and the readiness to
embrace the culture of always reaching for above and beyond.

"It is no longer affordable or intelligent for us to be satisfied with the way
things are," he said.

Earlier, the prime minister had launched the Razak School of
Government (RSOG) at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC) here.

Also present was Chief Secretary to the Government Mohd Sidek Hassan, who is
also the chairman of RSOG's Board of Trustees.

Najib said an institutional and structural change could only happen when leaders
not only understand what must be done but have the integrity, humility and
determination to bring this great nation to the next horizon.

He said a world class leadership was not merely there to lead but to inspire
others to follow.

"It requires the capability of making the right decision with fully informed
reasoning, seamless execution and outcome-driven mentality.

"To do this, we need to cultivate a knowledge-based public service. Thus, our
immediate challenge is how to ensure that talented and knowledgeable Malaysians
out there will contribute towards the nation becoming a better country to live
in.

"The establishment of institutions like RSOG, I believe is to pre-empt, react
and to respond to these questions. The School was founded on two main thrusts --
leadership and knowledge," he said.

The prime minister said transformational leadership coupled with knowledge,
capacity and capability was the golden formula for creating an environment that
was conducive to effective problem-solving and innovation.

Najib said it was vital that our institutional and structural transformation was
guided by a clear, comprehensive and commonly accepted vision of the fundamental
principles that should shape the new public service.

He said the idea of new public leadership was what had to be kept in mind
because change was no longer feasible only through management but must be
accompanied by leadership.

"By working in partnership across government agencies, the public service
creates a networked governance environment whose aim is the delivery of public
value.

"The creation of a people-centred and people-driven public service is a mustif
we want to see the structural change happen," he said.

Meanwhile, when launching the RSOG, Najib said personnally, the setting up of
RSOG was a great honour to him and his family because it was named after his
father, the late Abdul Razak, who was Malaysia's second prime minister.

"As the head of government, the setting up of the RSOG is very timely," he said.

The RSOG is envisioned to be a catalyst for intellectual and professional
grooming of the nation's future leaders across all service sectors.

RSOG's vision is to be a global institution engaging in cutting edge research,
teaching and training in public leadership, public policy and public service in
Malaysia as well as internationally.

It has a mission to train high-potential public leaders in coming up with
innovative solutions to the most pressing public problems in Malaysia and the
region.
-- BERNAMA