PM ticks off lazy civil servants

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has urged civil servants to improve their efficiency for Malaysia to quickly jumpstart and overcome the present global economic slowdown.

Speaking at the monthly gathering for staff of the prime minister's department, Abdullah also hit out at lazy civil servants for their apathy which may be hindering the government's public delivery system and hence delay Malaysia's recovery.

"The government has introduced the RM7 billion stimulus package last year. Najib (Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak) would be tabling another package soon.

“Hence, there is a need for the government and civil servants to work hard and improve their efficiency.”

Saying the holiday period was over in referring to the long Chinese New Year break, Abdullah called on the public sector to get down to business in properly delivering and implementing government policies.

“We have to be quick to implement the various policies that had been outlined and the various projects that had been planned and formulated. The government and the civil servants have to quickly implement and award the various projects and they should not be delayed.

“We have to stop the ‘ya, ya, ya’ attitude and then not doing anything. The rakyat is depending on us to help the country overcome the present turmoil,” the prime minister said in his 15-minute speech.

Also present at the monthly briefing was Najib, chief secretary to the government Mohd Sidek Hassan, ministers and deputy ministers in the Prime Minister's Department and senior staff.

Abdullah also said the public had high expectations for the government to deliver and hence, it was vital for them (civil servants) not to betray this trust.

Using the awarding of contracts as an example, the prime minister said when they had been awarded, the companies expect quick and fast approvals.

“This is something which we have to improve time and time again. I hope the public service could effectively deliver the promise that the government has made by ensuring there is not much time spent to approve a project,” he said.

VIDEO l 13 mins