Page 42 - KSN English Final

In our efforts to address the rakyat’s Awam, where civil servants should go to the ground instead of waiting
for those in need to come to us. I expect all of us to not just wait in our
priorities and problems, it is incumbent air-conditioned office, but instead to be pro-active and reach out to the
upon us to reach out, meet, network, elderly, poor or the disabled who are in need of assistance or welfare from
engage and talk to them. This can the Government, since you have all the facts and figures on record.
never be done by being detached and For example, if the media airs the plight of a poor old lady, we can trace
confined to the realm of our offices and her and provide assistance. This must apply to all departments, regardless
desks in Putrajaya. Any decision made of whether at the federal or state level. If it is not in your jurisdiction, then
refer them to the relevant departments, including our colleagues at the
based on theoretical assumptions is District Office.
as good as not making one at all. The
dynamism of engagement goes well We should also rise up and fight back against untrue allegations made
against the Government and its programmes. We have always been at the
beyond conventional outreach. It entails receiving end of criticism, and I believe it is time that we address all these
a commitment to sharing and reciprocity, lies with facts and figures. We must defend the good name of the civil
defined by mutual respect and trust, as service at all times, by fully utilising the new mainstream media, that is,
the social media. This is my challenge to you.
espoused by the spirit of 1Malaysia.
Under the present leadership that encourages openness and transparency,
people have greater opportunity to express themselves. All sorts of new
mediums of communication, including social media, have been leveraged
I would also like to take this opportunity to remind all of you here this to listen to the views and the grouses of the rakyat. Civil servants need to
afternoon of the important role that you play in nation-building. As the be social media-friendly and have Twitter and Facebook accounts too, to
13th General Elections have come to a close, and the new Cabinet has engage them.
been announced, we have the responsibility to serve the Government
of the day, and ensure successful implementation of the policies and
development programmes planned. We must put our personal political
opinions aside, and work towards developing the country together.

In our efforts to address the rakyat’s priorities and problems, it is
incumbent upon us to reach out, meet, network, engage and talk to
them. This can never be done by being detached and confined to the
realm of our offices and desks in Putrajaya. Any decision made based on
theoretical assumptions is as good as not making one at all. The dynamism
of engagement goes well beyond conventional outreach. It entails a
commitment to sharing and reciprocity, defined by mutual respect and
trust, as espoused by the spirit of 1Malaysia.

It is in this context that we should embody the spirit of Turun Padang and
Musyawarah or engagement. Furthermore, I have recently introduced the
“Search and Assist” approach for civil servants or Jejak Mesra Perkhidmatan

32 Humanising The Public Service : A Compilation of Speeches by the Chief Secretary to the Government 33