SERVICE DELIVERY SYSTEM MUST BE FURTHER IMPROVED - MINISTER

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 2 -- The Federal Territories Ministry and its agencies
were Thursday urged to further improve its service delivery system in 2009 and
make its programmes more people-oriented with the involvement of all quarters.

Its minister Zulhasnan Rafique said towards this end, he hoped the agencies
would adopt a people-friendly approach in enhancing their service delivery.

"On my side, I will continue to listen to the views and grouses of the
people as this approach can help solve problems efficiently and effectively," he
said in a press statement issued here Thursday.

"I also hope the agencies under my ministry, particularly Kuala Lumpur City
Hall (DBKL), can further enhance their service delivery by being agents of
community development so that the people's problems can be resolved," he said.

Zulhasnan had in 2007 mooted the idea of a One-Stop Centre for each of the
three local authorities -- the Labuan Corporation, Putrajaya Corporation and
DBKL -- in the Federal Territories, in the ministry's effort to improve the
service delivery via a people-friendly concept.

In 2008, the minister had taken some drastic steps, including maintaining
the road name of Jalan Alor and freezing three hillslope projects in Medan
Damansara, Bukit Ceylon and Gasing Hill.

He also announced the freeze on all projects on hillslopes of 26 to 35
degrees and above incline until proper planning, designing and a control system
have been put in place by the government.

The ministry will also issue guidelines on development projects in hilly
areas after the Housing and Local Government Ministry issues new guidelines on
such development projects as ordered by the Cabinet recently.

This year, Zulhasnan is calling on city folk to strengthen relations and
racial unity so that they can progress and succeed together.

"I hope our city residents would cooperate and work with us to make Kuala
Lumpur a world-class city.

"The involvement of all quarters, such as residents associations, traders
and hawkers associations and other non-governmental organisations and the public
at large will enable us to work as a team for the benefit of all, in line with
the vision of Developed and Prosperous Federal Territories," he said.

The ministry and its agencies will also plan more programmes involving the
community such as the "Program Gerak Tumpuan", Happy Family Carnival,
People-Friendly Programme, sports carnivals and many more this year.

On the Federal Territories Day celebration this year, Zulhasnan said several
programmes had been planned and would be announced soon.

In 2008, the celebration created history in its 34 years when awards and
titles were conferred for the first time by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

This development also helped turn the Federal Territories Ministry into a
more dynamic ministry after it was revived in 2004.
-- BERNAMA