CIVIL SERVANTS AND POLICY MAKERS MUST HAVE CLOSE WORKING RELATIONSHIP

KUALA LUMPUR, July 30 (Bernama) -- Civil servants and policy makers need to
have a close working relationship so that the 1Malaysia concept could be
understood for effective implementation.

Information Communication and Culture Minister Dr Rais Yatim said this was
important because after the concept was understood, only then could it be
implemented with vigour and capability.

"In this context, there are several minor strategies, including the public
perception which is now high. So, it is necessary for us, that is, the federal
government to determine what is the main aspiration and quickly fulfill it
through our capacity under the national development and administrative
programmes," he said.

He said this to reporters after delivering a speech entitled "Empowering And
Speeding Up 1Malaysia Spirit" at the Seminar on 1Malaysia: Excellence Through
Diversification at the National Institute of Public Administration (Intan), here
Thursday.

Rais said civil servants in the country must accept and understand the
1Malaysia concept to give the best service according to the schedule stipulated
and which was valuable to the people.

"When priority is given to the people, they want attention, if the service
provided is slow, they will criticise, if it is not given according to schedule,
they will criticise for not following the schedule," he said.

Besides civil servants and government leaders, Rais said the private sector,
non-government organisations (NGOs) and political leaders must also play their
roles in giving understanding on the 1Malaysia concept to their members.

"Our system now depends on political sentiments, political bodies including
Umno, MCA, MIC and the opposition. They have their own responsibility to explain
this cause to their members.

"Thus, they need a clear scope of information and they must have an agenda
on how the concept is to be successfully implemented," he said.

He said the ministry was willing to contribute information materials such as
audio visual aid for use by political parties that needed a strong understanding
of the concept.
-- BERNAMA